2009 Kia Picanto — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Kia Picanto passed 72.6% of its 88,189 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail 25.7% of the time, so this is 1.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (12.1%) and lighting & signalling (11.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rbt (sp) and service brake performance — position lamp alone was recorded 5,368 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.3% in the 0-30k band and 35.9% in the 150k+ band, a 18.6-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 12.1% | 10,692 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 10,427 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.3% | 9,083 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 6,417 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.6% | 5,787 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.1% | 5,405 |
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 | 5,368 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 4,500 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 3,932 |
| 4 | Wipers | 3,885 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,788 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 3,485 |
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 | 28.5% | 25,106 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.8% | 24,554 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.9% | 20,179 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.2% | 13,401 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.1% | 10,648 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 7,778 |
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 | 11,261 | 17.3% |
| 30-60k | 32,987 | 25.3% |
| 60-90k | 28,251 | 30.3% |
| 90-120k | 12,138 | 34.0% |
| 120-150k | 2,917 | 34.1% |
| 150k+ | 612 | 35.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 88,157 | 27.4% |
| Diesel | 32 | 28.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,899 | 26.4% |
| 2022 | 18,492 | 26.8% |
| 2023 | 17,960 | 27.5% |
| 2024 | 16,990 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 15,848 | 28.8% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Picanto
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 12.1% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (12.1% 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 (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.3% 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 2009 Kia Picantos pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 88,189 2009 Kia Picanto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Kia Picanto?
Brakes, recorded in 12.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.8%).
Does the 2009 Picanto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.3% in the 0-30k band to 35.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 88,189 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.