2018 Kia Picanto — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Kia Picanto passed 91.6% of its 88,684 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.3 percentage points better than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.8%. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (4.5%) and tyres (3.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, washers and daytime running lamps — wipers alone was recorded 3,243 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.9% in the 0-30k band and 16.4% in the 120-150k band, a 10.6-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.5% | 4,005 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.5% | 3,116 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 3,008 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.3% | 1,185 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 1,104 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 460 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 3,243 |
| 2 | Washers | 1,669 |
| 3 | Daytime running lamps | 1,588 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 989 |
| 5 | Pipe | 964 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 815 |
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 | 22.1% | 19,603 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.9% | 7,041 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.8% | 4,212 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 2,141 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.2% | 1,036 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.0% | 918 |
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 | 59,095 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 25,495 | 12.8% |
| 60-90k | 3,496 | 18.2% |
| 90-120k | 489 | 17.4% |
| 120-150k | 67 | 16.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,367 | 5.1% |
| 2022 | 17,419 | 6.4% |
| 2023 | 17,917 | 8.7% |
| 2024 | 17,781 | 10.4% |
| 2025 | 18,200 | 11.2% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Picanto
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 4.5% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (4.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (3.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2018 Kia Picantos pass their MOT?
91.6% of the 88,684 2018 Kia Picanto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Kia Picanto?
Visibility, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by tyres (3.5%).
Does the 2018 Picanto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 0-30k band to 16.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 88,684 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.