2019 Kia Picanto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 76,479 MOT tests, the 2019 Kia Picanto recorded a 91.8% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail at 8.7%, so the 2019 Picanto sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in visibility, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (4.6%) and lighting & signalling (3.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, daytime running lamps and washers — wipers alone was recorded 3,007 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.0% once past 120-150k — 4.7× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 3.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.6% | 3,506 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 2,815 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.6% | 2,790 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 1,029 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.1% | 818 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 284 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 3,007 |
| 2 | Daytime running lamps | 1,774 |
| 3 | Washers | 1,333 |
| 4 | Pipe | 915 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 858 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 603 |
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 | 20.3% | 15,511 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.9% | 5,293 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.9% | 3,745 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 1,961 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.1% | 1,574 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.0% | 1,551 |
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 | 57,443 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 17,112 | 13.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,668 | 18.8% |
| 90-120k | 190 | 17.9% |
| 120-150k | 50 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 719 | 3.9% |
| 2022 | 18,725 | 5.8% |
| 2023 | 18,931 | 7.7% |
| 2024 | 18,806 | 9.4% |
| 2025 | 19,298 | 10.2% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Picanto
On a 2019 Picanto, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (4.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.6% 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.
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 2019 Kia Picantos pass their MOT?
91.8% of the 76,479 2019 Kia Picanto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Kia Picanto?
Visibility, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.7%).
Does the 2019 Picanto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 30.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 76,479 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.