2004 Kia Picanto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 14,646 MOT tests, the 2004 Kia Picanto recorded a 69.2% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 29.6% of the time, so this is 1.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.3%) and brakes (15.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), headlamp aim and position lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 1,166 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 42.0% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 2,384 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.6% | 2,277 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.9% | 1,883 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.9% | 1,156 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.8% | 1,137 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 960 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 1,166 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,045 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 992 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 885 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 873 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 812 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 39.5% | 5,784 |
| 2 | Brakes | 37.7% | 5,515 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.0% | 4,247 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 22.4% | 3,278 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.3% | 2,244 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.0% | 1,899 |
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 | 565 | 18.2% |
| 30-60k | 3,970 | 25.4% |
| 60-90k | 5,667 | 31.2% |
| 90-120k | 3,307 | 35.4% |
| 120-150k | 941 | 40.5% |
| 150k+ | 193 | 42.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,258 | 31.0% |
| 2022 | 3,469 | 30.8% |
| 2023 | 2,852 | 30.5% |
| 2024 | 2,277 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 1,790 | 32.1% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Picanto
On a 2004 Picanto, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (15.6% 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.
- Suspension (12.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2004 Kia Picantos pass their MOT?
69.2% of the 14,646 2004 Kia Picanto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Kia Picanto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by brakes (15.6%).
Does the 2004 Picanto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.2% in the 0-30k band to 42.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,646 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.