2014 Kia Optima — MOT failures & pass rate
3,699 MOT tests on the 2014 Kia Optima are in this dataset, and 79.8% of them passed. That is 1.5 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 18.7%. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (8.7%) and tyres (7.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, brake pads and service brake performance — track rod end alone was recorded 180 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.1% once past 150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 8.7% | 323 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.1% | 264 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 233 |
| 4 | Steering | 4.9% | 182 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.4% | 163 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.0% | 112 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 180 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 131 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 130 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 112 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 90 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 79 |
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 | 27.5% | 1,018 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.3% | 897 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.9% | 442 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.8% | 325 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 224 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 131 |
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 | 113 | 12.4% |
| 30-60k | 813 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,364 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 908 | 24.3% |
| 120-150k | 342 | 24.9% |
| 150k+ | 159 | 20.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 761 | 16.8% |
| 2022 | 758 | 19.9% |
| 2023 | 743 | 21.1% |
| 2024 | 746 | 21.6% |
| 2025 | 691 | 21.7% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Optima
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 8.7% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (8.7% 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.
- Tyres (7.1% 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 (6.3% 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 2014 Kia Optimas pass their MOT?
79.8% of the 3,699 2014 Kia Optima MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Kia Optima?
Brakes, recorded in 8.7% of tests, followed by tyres (7.1%).
Does the 2014 Optima get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.4% in the 0-30k band to 20.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,699 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.