2020 Kia Picanto — MOT failures & pass rate
28,918 MOT tests on the 2020 Kia Picanto are in this dataset, and 92.4% of them passed. City cars of a similar age fail at 7.6%, so the 2020 Picanto sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (4.3%) and tyres (4.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and washers — wipers alone was recorded 1,226 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.3% in the 0-30k band and 22.7% in the 90-120k band, a 16.4-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 4.0% of tests failed in 2022 against 9.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.3% | 1,250 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.1% | 1,188 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 662 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.7% | 215 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 205 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 60 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,226 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 383 |
| 3 | Washers | 347 |
| 4 | Daytime running lamps | 241 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 231 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 204 |
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 | 19.9% | 5,743 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.9% | 1,416 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.9% | 1,402 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.4% | 1,268 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 755 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.8% | 233 |
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 | 23,114 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 5,284 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 402 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 88 | 22.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 277 | 4.0% |
| 2023 | 9,464 | 5.7% |
| 2024 | 9,435 | 7.8% |
| 2025 | 9,734 | 9.2% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Picanto
On a 2020 Picanto, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (4.3% 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 (4.1% 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 (2.3% 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 2020 Kia Picantos pass their MOT?
92.4% of the 28,918 2020 Kia Picanto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Kia Picanto?
Visibility, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by tyres (4.1%).
Does the 2020 Picanto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 0-30k band to 22.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,918 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.