2008 Kia Picanto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 22,641 MOT tests, the 2008 Kia Picanto recorded a 71.9% pass rate. That is 1.1 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.4%) and brakes (13.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, track rod end and rbt (sp) — position lamp alone was recorded 1,571 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 36.0% versus 16.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 3,022 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.1% | 2,971 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.1% | 2,279 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.5% | 1,464 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 1,442 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.3% | 1,414 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 1,571 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 1,288 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 1,226 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 1,103 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 1,078 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 1,072 |
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 | 30.5% | 6,914 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.6% | 6,697 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.9% | 6,097 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.9% | 3,376 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.3% | 3,021 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 2,788 |
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 | 1,576 | 16.8% |
| 30-60k | 7,399 | 24.4% |
| 60-90k | 8,356 | 30.3% |
| 90-120k | 4,100 | 33.0% |
| 120-150k | 979 | 32.3% |
| 150k+ | 228 | 36.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,074 | 26.3% |
| 2022 | 4,804 | 26.9% |
| 2023 | 4,614 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 4,324 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 3,825 | 30.0% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Picanto
On a 2008 Picanto, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.1% 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.
- Suspension (10.1% 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 2008 Kia Picantos pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 22,641 2008 Kia Picanto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Kia Picanto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by brakes (13.1%).
Does the 2008 Picanto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.8% in the 0-30k band to 36.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,641 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.