2012 Kia Picanto — MOT failures & pass rate
85,163 MOT tests on the 2012 Kia Picanto are in this dataset, and 76.3% of them passed. That is 2.8 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.9%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (10.9%) and lighting & signalling (9.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rigid brake pipes and rbt (sp) — position lamp alone was recorded 5,342 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.9% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 32.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 10.9% | 9,269 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 8,328 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.7% | 7,372 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.6% | 4,797 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 4,095 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 3,270 |
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 | 5,342 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,752 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 3,738 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 3,173 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 3,163 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 2,936 |
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 | 32.9% | 28,009 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.4% | 22,518 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.5% | 13,172 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 7,001 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.7% | 5,722 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.1% | 4,299 |
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 | 10,128 | 13.7% |
| 30-60k | 34,962 | 21.4% |
| 60-90k | 28,762 | 27.3% |
| 90-120k | 9,213 | 30.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,766 | 31.5% |
| 150k+ | 325 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 85,117 | 23.7% |
| Diesel | 46 | 21.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,969 | 21.4% |
| 2022 | 17,166 | 22.6% |
| 2023 | 17,225 | 23.8% |
| 2024 | 17,055 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 16,748 | 25.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Picanto
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 10.9% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (10.9% 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 (9.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.7% 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 2012 Kia Picantos pass their MOT?
76.3% of the 85,163 2012 Kia Picanto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Kia Picanto?
Brakes, recorded in 10.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.8%).
Does the 2012 Picanto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.7% in the 0-30k band to 32.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 85,163 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.