2019 Kia Rio — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 21,324 MOT tests, the 2019 Kia Rio recorded a 91.5% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail 10.0% of the time, so this is 1.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (4.3%) and tyres (3.7%) 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 894 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.0% in the 0-30k band and 13.6% in the 90-120k band, a 7.6-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.3% | 926 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.7% | 780 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 500 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.7% | 368 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 203 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 41 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 894 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 364 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 340 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 258 |
| 5 | Washers | 240 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 173 |
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 | 20.0% | 4,256 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.7% | 2,284 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.3% | 1,354 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 691 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 301 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.1% | 234 |
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 | 12,686 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 7,507 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 993 | 15.6% |
| 90-120k | 118 | 13.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 220 | 5.5% |
| 2022 | 5,158 | 4.7% |
| 2023 | 5,230 | 7.4% |
| 2024 | 5,340 | 10.9% |
| 2025 | 5,376 | 10.9% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Rio
On a 2019 Rio, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (4.3% 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.
- Tyres (3.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.3% 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 2019 Kia Rios pass their MOT?
91.5% of the 21,324 2019 Kia Rio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Kia Rio?
Visibility, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by tyres (3.7%).
Does the 2019 Rio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.0% in the 0-30k band to 13.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,324 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.