2012 Kia Rio — MOT failures & pass rate
59,063 MOT tests on the 2012 Kia Rio are in this dataset, and 75.4% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail 22.6% of the time, so this is 2.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.5%) and suspension (10.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, ball joint and tread depth — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 3,471 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.8% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 23.3% fail against 27.6% for diesel, a 4.3-point gap across 59,063 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 6,790 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.1% | 5,972 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.4% | 4,967 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.6% | 3,304 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 3,184 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 2,112 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 3,471 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 2,264 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,156 |
| 4 | Washers | 2,061 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 1,945 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,810 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 27.8% | 16,414 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.4% | 16,206 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.9% | 12,346 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 6,588 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.9% | 5,863 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 2,471 |
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 | 2,250 | 13.4% |
| 30-60k | 14,642 | 20.2% |
| 60-90k | 22,427 | 25.3% |
| 90-120k | 13,974 | 27.7% |
| 120-150k | 4,534 | 29.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,227 | 29.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 41,073 | 23.3% |
| Diesel | 17,990 | 27.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,067 | 22.4% |
| 2022 | 12,109 | 23.6% |
| 2023 | 12,003 | 25.0% |
| 2024 | 11,765 | 26.3% |
| 2025 | 11,119 | 25.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Rio
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.1% 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 (8.4% 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 2012 Kia Rios pass their MOT?
75.4% of the 59,063 2012 Kia Rio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Kia Rio?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.5% of tests, followed by suspension (10.1%).
Does the 2012 Rio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.4% in the 0-30k band to 29.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 59,063 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.