2008 Kia Rio — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 15,633 MOT tests, the 2008 Kia Rio recorded a 70.6% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (26.9% fail rate), the 2008 Rio comes out 2.5pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.8%) and suspension (14.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, position lamp and ball joint — track rod end alone was recorded 1,662 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.2% in the 0-30k band and 37.5% in the 150k+ band, a 22.3-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.2pp more often than petrol ones (31.4% vs 28.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 38.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 28.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 2,468 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.0% | 2,186 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.7% | 1,829 |
| 4 | Steering | 10.2% | 1,586 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.3% | 991 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 989 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 1,662 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,255 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 943 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 919 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 804 |
| 6 | Wipers | 685 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 38.2% | 5,973 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.3% | 5,360 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.8% | 4,657 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 2,320 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.7% | 2,143 |
| 6 | Steering | 13.5% | 2,112 |
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 | 434 | 15.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,810 | 23.3% |
| 60-90k | 5,342 | 29.3% |
| 90-120k | 4,517 | 32.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,781 | 32.5% |
| 150k+ | 744 | 37.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 9,558 | 28.2% |
| Diesel | 6,075 | 31.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,902 | 28.0% |
| 2022 | 3,601 | 29.5% |
| 2023 | 3,180 | 29.6% |
| 2024 | 2,738 | 31.1% |
| 2025 | 2,212 | 29.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Rio
On a 2008 Rio, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.0% 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.
- Brakes (11.7% 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.
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 2008 Kia Rios pass their MOT?
70.6% of the 15,633 2008 Kia Rio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Kia Rio?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by suspension (14.0%).
Does the 2008 Rio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.2% in the 0-30k band to 37.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,633 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.