2020 Kia Soul First Ev — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Kia Soul First Ev passed 91.7% of its 2,851 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.4%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.5%) and visibility (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, steering rack and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 101 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.7% versus 6.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.4% of tests failed in 2023 against 11.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.5% | 158 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.0% | 85 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 32 |
| 4 | Steering | 1.0% | 29 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.8% | 23 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.1% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 101 |
| 2 | Steering rack | 31 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 26 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 17 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 15 |
| 6 | Horn | 6 |
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 | 25.6% | 729 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.7% | 191 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.1% | 116 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 103 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 19 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 10 |
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 | 1,551 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,102 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 162 | 9.3% |
| 90-120k | 30 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 915 | 5.4% |
| 2024 | 942 | 8.6% |
| 2025 | 966 | 11.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Soul First Ev
On a 2020 Soul First Ev, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 (3.0% 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 (1.1% 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 Soul First Evs pass their MOT?
91.7% of the 2,851 2020 Kia Soul First Ev MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Kia Soul First Ev?
Tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by visibility (3.0%).
Does the 2020 Soul First Ev get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,851 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.