2021 Kia Niro 3 Ev — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 14,708 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Kia Niro 3 Ev, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 92.8% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (92.0%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.8% | 855 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 622 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.4% | 357 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.6% | 92 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.1% | 17 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 526 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 342 |
| 3 | Wipers | 335 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 172 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 168 |
| 6 | Washers | 75 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 19.8% | 2,908 |
| 2 | Other defects | 4.3% | 630 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.1% | 453 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 434 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 163 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.8% | 120 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 3,110 | 5.3% |
| 30-60k | 5,289 | 8.0% |
| 60-90k | 3,105 | 7.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,885 | 7.3% |
| 120-150k | 864 | 8.5% |
| 150k+ | 455 | 9.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,501 | 4.8% |
| 2023 | 2,504 | 4.9% |
| 2024 | 5,255 | 7.9% |
| 2025 | 5,431 | 8.5% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Niro 3 Ev
Before buying a 2021 Kia Niro 3 Ev, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.8% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (4.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2021 Kia Niro 3 Evs pass their MOT?
92.8% of the 14,708 2021 Kia Niro 3 Ev MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Kia Niro 3 Ev?
Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.2%).
Does the 2021 Niro 3 Ev get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.3% in the 0-30k band to 9.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,708 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.