2019 Kia Picanto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 73,192 MOT tests analysed for the 2019 Kia Picanto, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, lighting & signalling and tyres. Its pass rate of 91.6% was in line with the average for city cars of a similar age (91.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 30.0% in the 120-150k group versus 6.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.6% | 3,391 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 2,770 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.7% | 2,688 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 993 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.1% | 795 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 278 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 2,895 |
| 2 | Daytime running lamps | 1,774 |
| 3 | Washers | 1,301 |
| 4 | Pipe | 882 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 831 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 599 |
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% | 14,839 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.0% | 5,118 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.0% | 3,624 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 1,904 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.1% | 1,539 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.0% | 1,489 |
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 | 54,588 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 16,705 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,644 | 18.9% |
| 90-120k | 189 | 18.0% |
| 120-150k | 50 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 715 | 3.8% |
| 2022 | 17,934 | 5.9% |
| 2023 | 18,106 | 7.8% |
| 2024 | 17,974 | 9.5% |
| 2025 | 18,463 | 10.3% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Picanto
Before buying a 2019 Kia Picanto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 4.6% of tests for this year.
- 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 (3.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.7% 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?
91.6% of the 73,192 2019 Kia Picanto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.4% 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 (3.8%).
Does the 2019 Picanto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 30.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 73,192 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.