2013 Kia Rio — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 63,785 MOT tests, the 2013 Kia Rio recorded a 77.0% pass rate. That is 1.9 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 21.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.8%) and suspension (9.0%) 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, washers and tread depth — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 4,200 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.5% in the 0-30k band and 27.1% in the 150k+ band, a 15.7-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.9pp more often than petrol ones (25.7% vs 21.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 6,864 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.0% | 5,713 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.4% | 4,714 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.3% | 3,414 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 3,378 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.6% | 1,684 |
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 | 4,200 |
| 2 | Washers | 2,292 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,190 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 2,164 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 1,926 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,836 |
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 | 27.2% | 17,340 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.3% | 16,782 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.1% | 10,905 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 6,615 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.8% | 5,583 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 2,187 |
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 | 3,725 | 11.5% |
| 30-60k | 20,355 | 19.5% |
| 60-90k | 24,757 | 24.8% |
| 90-120k | 10,991 | 27.3% |
| 120-150k | 3,064 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 888 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 45,398 | 21.9% |
| Diesel | 18,382 | 25.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,699 | 19.9% |
| 2022 | 12,939 | 21.9% |
| 2023 | 13,106 | 24.1% |
| 2024 | 12,763 | 24.3% |
| 2025 | 12,278 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Rio
On a 2013 Rio, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.0% 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 (7.4% 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 2013 Kia Rios pass their MOT?
77.0% of the 63,785 2013 Kia Rio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Kia Rio?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.8% of tests, followed by suspension (9.0%).
Does the 2013 Rio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.5% in the 0-30k band to 27.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 63,785 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.