2019 Kia Niro — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 46,902 MOT tests analysed for the 2019 Kia Niro, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 91.8% was in line with the average for small SUVs of a similar age (91.4%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.3% | 2,491 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 1,471 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.1% | 1,455 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 533 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 112 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 92 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,380 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,057 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 719 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 507 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 326 |
| 6 | Washers | 303 |
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 | 22.4% | 10,514 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.0% | 2,797 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.6% | 2,607 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 1,265 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 558 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.9% | 418 |
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 | 17,017 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 17,359 | 9.5% |
| 60-90k | 6,490 | 8.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,925 | 7.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,647 | 7.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,462 | 7.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 43,602 | 8.1% |
| Electric | 3,284 | 9.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,741 | 5.1% |
| 2022 | 11,021 | 7.2% |
| 2023 | 11,339 | 8.3% |
| 2024 | 11,278 | 8.9% |
| 2025 | 11,523 | 8.9% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Niro
Before buying a 2019 Kia Niro, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.3% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.3% 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 (3.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
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 2019 Kia Niros pass their MOT?
91.8% of the 46,902 2019 Kia Niro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Kia Niro?
Tyres, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.1%).
Does the 2019 Niro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 7.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 46,902 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.