2013 Kia Picanto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 79,575 MOT tests, the 2013 Kia Picanto recorded a 79.3% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 19.1% of the time, so this is 1.6pp 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 (10.0%) and lighting & signalling (9.7%) 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 rigid brake pipes — position lamp alone was recorded 5,188 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.0% in the 0-30k band and 32.4% in the 150k+ band, a 20.5-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 29.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 10.0% | 7,914 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 7,678 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.3% | 4,996 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.3% | 4,180 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 3,510 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 1,573 |
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 | 5,188 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 3,367 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,885 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 2,583 |
| 5 | Wipers | 2,465 |
| 6 | Parking brake performance | 2,421 |
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 | 29.8% | 23,718 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.9% | 20,634 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.4% | 9,902 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 5,563 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.3% | 5,003 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.5% | 2,781 |
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 | 14,305 | 12.0% |
| 30-60k | 36,049 | 19.7% |
| 60-90k | 22,291 | 25.5% |
| 90-120k | 5,867 | 28.4% |
| 120-150k | 874 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 185 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,739 | 17.9% |
| 2022 | 15,855 | 19.4% |
| 2023 | 15,963 | 20.5% |
| 2024 | 16,153 | 22.8% |
| 2025 | 15,865 | 22.9% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Picanto
On a 2013 Picanto, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (10.0% 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 (9.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.3% 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 2013 Kia Picantos pass their MOT?
79.3% of the 79,575 2013 Kia Picanto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Kia Picanto?
Brakes, recorded in 10.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.7%).
Does the 2013 Picanto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.0% in the 0-30k band to 32.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 79,575 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.