2020 Kia Rio — MOT failures & pass rate
11,109 MOT tests on the 2020 Kia Rio are in this dataset, and 91.9% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail at 8.9%, so the 2020 Rio sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (4.3%) and tyres (3.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 469 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 14.3% once past 90-120k — 2.2× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 6.7% of the time against 8.1% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.3% of tests failed in 2022 against 9.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.3% | 475 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.5% | 389 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 216 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.8% | 196 |
| 5 | Steering | 0.7% | 72 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.6% | 62 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 469 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 184 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 153 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 144 |
| 5 | Washers | 95 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 89 |
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 | 18.6% | 2,072 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.2% | 1,027 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.8% | 643 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 354 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.0% | 334 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.0% | 110 |
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 | 7,426 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 3,320 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 321 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 35 | 14.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,522 | 8.1% |
| Hybrid | 585 | 6.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 169 | 5.3% |
| 2023 | 3,586 | 5.6% |
| 2024 | 3,629 | 8.7% |
| 2025 | 3,721 | 9.9% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Rio
On a 2020 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 (3.5% 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 (1.9% 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 2020 Kia Rios pass their MOT?
91.9% of the 11,109 2020 Kia Rio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Kia Rio?
Visibility, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by tyres (3.5%).
Does the 2020 Rio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 14.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,109 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.