2014 Kia Rio — MOT failures & pass rate
68,234 MOT tests on the 2014 Kia Rio are in this dataset, and 80.0% of them passed. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (19.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.5%) and brakes (6.1%) 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, tread depth and wipers — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 2,599 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.1% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 18.9% fail against 23.5% for diesel, a 4.7-point gap across 68,234 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 5,775 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.1% | 4,134 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.0% | 4,111 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 3,937 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 3,182 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 1,625 |
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 | 2,599 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,495 |
| 3 | Wipers | 2,084 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 1,958 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,849 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,779 |
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 | 27.1% | 18,457 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.6% | 17,467 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.8% | 9,432 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.5% | 5,780 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 4,602 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.1% | 4,163 |
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 | 6,249 | 10.6% |
| 30-60k | 27,179 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 23,783 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 8,505 | 25.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,965 | 27.3% |
| 150k+ | 552 | 28.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 51,431 | 18.9% |
| Diesel | 16,803 | 23.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,466 | 16.9% |
| 2022 | 13,625 | 18.4% |
| 2023 | 13,759 | 20.3% |
| 2024 | 13,822 | 21.9% |
| 2025 | 13,562 | 22.4% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Rio
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.1% 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.
- Suspension (6.0% 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.
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 2014 Kia Rios pass their MOT?
80.0% of the 68,234 2014 Kia Rio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Kia Rio?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.5% of tests, followed by brakes (6.1%).
Does the 2014 Rio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.6% in the 0-30k band to 28.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 68,234 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.