2011 Kia Picanto — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Kia Picanto passed 74.3% of its 70,440 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.1 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.6%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (12.7%) and lighting & signalling (11.3%) 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 rigid brake pipes — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 4,658 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.8% in the 0-30k band and 35.5% in the 150k+ band, a 19.7-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 12.7% | 8,958 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 7,996 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.9% | 6,239 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.9% | 4,142 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 3,774 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 3,190 |
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) | 4,658 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 4,059 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,691 |
| 4 | Wipers | 2,613 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,470 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 2,199 |
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 | 30.8% | 21,683 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.5% | 19,373 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.6% | 11,718 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 6,560 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 5,739 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.0% | 4,947 |
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 | 7,744 | 15.8% |
| 30-60k | 27,441 | 23.7% |
| 60-90k | 24,350 | 28.8% |
| 90-120k | 8,633 | 30.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,886 | 31.4% |
| 150k+ | 363 | 35.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,431 | 23.9% |
| 2022 | 14,361 | 25.0% |
| 2023 | 14,219 | 25.7% |
| 2024 | 14,019 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 13,410 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Picanto
On a 2011 Picanto, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (12.7% 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 (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.9% 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 2011 Kia Picantos pass their MOT?
74.3% of the 70,440 2011 Kia Picanto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Kia Picanto?
Brakes, recorded in 12.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.3%).
Does the 2011 Picanto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.8% in the 0-30k band to 35.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 70,440 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.