2005 Kia Picanto — MOT failures & pass rate
28,421 MOT tests on the 2005 Kia Picanto are in this dataset, and 69.1% of them passed. Against city cars of a similar age (29.3% fail rate), the 2005 Picanto comes out 1.5pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (17.2%) and lighting & signalling (15.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), position lamp and service brake performance — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 2,672 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 39.5% versus 18.3%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 30.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 17.2% | 4,898 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 4,407 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.9% | 3,377 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.3% | 2,347 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 2,019 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 1,929 |
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) | 2,672 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 2,163 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 1,674 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,631 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,476 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 1,314 |
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 | 38.4% | 10,910 |
| 2 | Brakes | 37.9% | 10,764 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.3% | 8,601 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.9% | 5,081 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.6% | 4,709 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.3% | 3,489 |
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 | 1,328 | 18.3% |
| 30-60k | 8,210 | 26.4% |
| 60-90k | 10,977 | 31.7% |
| 90-120k | 6,182 | 36.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,442 | 37.7% |
| 150k+ | 263 | 39.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,766 | 30.4% |
| 2022 | 6,602 | 30.1% |
| 2023 | 5,651 | 30.6% |
| 2024 | 4,671 | 32.0% |
| 2025 | 3,731 | 32.0% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Picanto
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 17.2% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (17.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.9% 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 2005 Kia Picantos pass their MOT?
69.1% of the 28,421 2005 Kia Picanto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Kia Picanto?
Brakes, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.5%).
Does the 2005 Picanto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.3% in the 0-30k band to 39.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,421 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.