2006 Kia Picanto — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Kia Picanto passed 68.4% of its 31,743 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail 28.8% of the time, so this is 2.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 19.1% of all tests — 4.7 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), service brake performance and position lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 3,137 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 43.1% versus 19.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 39.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 31.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 19.1% | 6,079 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 4,592 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.7% | 4,020 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.1% | 2,576 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.2% | 2,281 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.1% | 2,243 |
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) | 3,137 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 3,018 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 2,320 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 2,269 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,630 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 1,301 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 39.0% | 12,367 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.9% | 10,443 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.5% | 9,381 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 4,793 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.0% | 4,450 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.3% | 4,224 |
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 | 1,672 | 19.3% |
| 30-60k | 9,405 | 27.5% |
| 60-90k | 13,195 | 33.2% |
| 90-120k | 6,158 | 36.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,117 | 39.2% |
| 150k+ | 167 | 43.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,561 | 31.0% |
| 2022 | 7,338 | 31.1% |
| 2023 | 6,391 | 31.7% |
| 2024 | 5,273 | 32.4% |
| 2025 | 4,180 | 32.9% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Picanto
On a 2006 Picanto, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (19.1% 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 (14.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.7% 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 2006 Kia Picantos pass their MOT?
68.4% of the 31,743 2006 Kia Picanto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Kia Picanto?
Brakes, recorded in 19.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.5%).
Does the 2006 Picanto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.3% in the 0-30k band to 43.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,743 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.