Kia Soul First Ev MOT pass rate & common failures
The Kia Soul First Ev appears in 5,135 MOT tests spanning model years 2020–2021, and 92.0% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (9.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.5%) and visibility (2.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 158 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.3% versus 6.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.3% of tests failed in 2023 against 9.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Soul First Ev model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2,851 | 91.7% | 8.3% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 2,284 | 92.3% | 7.7% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.5% | 284 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.8% | 141 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 61 |
| 4 | Steering | 0.7% | 38 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.7% | 37 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.1% | 6 |
| 7 | Suspension | 0.1% | 4 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 158 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 55 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 53 |
| 4 | Steering rack | 40 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 22 |
| 6 | Washers | 9 |
| 7 | Rear fog lamp | 8 |
| 8 | Rbt (sp) | 8 |
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 | 25.8% | 1,327 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.9% | 304 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.5% | 229 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 180 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 34 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 18 |
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 | 2,891 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,949 | 10.4% |
| 60-90k | 235 | 9.8% |
| 90-120k | 49 | 16.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 957 | 5.3% |
| 2024 | 2,052 | 7.9% |
| 2025 | 2,092 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a Kia Soul First Ev
- Tyres (5.5% 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.
- Visibility (2.8% 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 (1.2% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Kia Soul First Ev?
92.0% of the 5,135 Kia Soul First Ev MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 8.0% fail rate, across model years 2020–2021.
What does the Kia Soul First Ev most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests, then visibility (2.8%).
How much does mileage affect Soul First Ev MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 16.3% for 90-120k, a 10.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,135 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.