2017 Kia Niro — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Kia Niro passed 89.9% of its 24,905 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.8 percentage points better than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 11.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.8%) and visibility (3.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and service brake performance — wipers alone was recorded 663 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2017 Niro fails 7.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.8% | 1,444 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.1% | 767 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.8% | 695 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 516 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 137 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 91 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 663 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 567 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 349 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 256 |
| 5 | Washers | 235 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 215 |
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 | 25.3% | 6,303 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.4% | 2,587 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.3% | 1,581 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.1% | 785 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 346 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.3% | 315 |
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 | 5,156 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 11,409 | 10.2% |
| 60-90k | 5,336 | 12.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,729 | 11.5% |
| 120-150k | 669 | 10.8% |
| 150k+ | 605 | 9.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,747 | 7.3% |
| 2022 | 4,926 | 8.8% |
| 2023 | 5,090 | 11.4% |
| 2024 | 5,064 | 11.3% |
| 2025 | 5,078 | 11.6% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Niro
On a 2017 Niro, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Visibility (3.1% 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.
- Brakes (2.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2017 Kia Niros pass their MOT?
89.9% of the 24,905 2017 Kia Niro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Kia Niro?
Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by visibility (3.1%).
Does the 2017 Niro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 9.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,905 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.