2020 Kia Niro — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 67,055 MOT tests, the 2020 Kia Niro recorded a 92.1% pass rate. Small SUVs of a similar age fail at 7.9%, so the 2020 Niro sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.4%) and visibility (3.0%) 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 headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 1,994 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 Niro fails 6.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.0 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 7.4% of the time against 8.7% for electric.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 3.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.4% | 3,621 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.0% | 1,997 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 1,418 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.8% | 563 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 113 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.1% | 95 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,994 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,410 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 824 |
| 4 | Washers | 340 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 231 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 228 |
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 | 22.6% | 15,180 |
| 2 | Other defects | 5.9% | 3,935 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.6% | 3,755 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 1,886 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 593 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.7% | 439 |
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 | 28,783 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 26,671 | 9.5% |
| 60-90k | 7,441 | 8.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,443 | 7.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,002 | 8.5% |
| 150k+ | 713 | 9.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 42,046 | 7.4% |
| Electric | 24,993 | 8.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 840 | 3.7% |
| 2022 | 1,860 | 3.8% |
| 2023 | 20,835 | 7.3% |
| 2024 | 21,407 | 7.9% |
| 2025 | 22,113 | 9.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Niro
On a 2020 Niro, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.4% 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 (3.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2020 Kia Niros pass their MOT?
92.1% of the 67,055 2020 Kia Niro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Kia Niro?
Tyres, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by visibility (3.0%).
Does the 2020 Niro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 9.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 67,055 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.