2017 Kia Rio — MOT failures & pass rate
45,143 MOT tests on the 2017 Kia Rio are in this dataset, and 89.1% of them passed. That is 2.4 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 13.3%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.6%) and visibility (4.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 1,656 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 14.0% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.2pp more often than petrol ones (13.5% vs 10.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.6% | 2,087 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.5% | 2,033 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 1,475 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.5% | 1,105 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 632 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 226 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,656 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,028 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 888 |
| 4 | Washers | 802 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 756 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 593 |
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 | 25.3% | 11,403 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.9% | 6,287 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.5% | 2,931 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 1,561 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.7% | 1,217 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 481 |
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 | 15,198 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 21,384 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 6,968 | 15.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,302 | 19.1% |
| 120-150k | 232 | 21.1% |
| 150k+ | 57 | 14.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 36,251 | 10.3% |
| Diesel | 8,892 | 13.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,848 | 8.2% |
| 2022 | 8,988 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 9,096 | 11.0% |
| 2024 | 9,092 | 12.4% |
| 2025 | 9,119 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Rio
On a 2017 Rio, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.6% 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.
- Visibility (4.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.3% 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 2017 Kia Rios pass their MOT?
89.1% of the 45,143 2017 Kia Rio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Kia Rio?
Tyres, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by visibility (4.5%).
Does the 2017 Rio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 14.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 45,143 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.