Kia Soul Maxx Ev MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 2 model years and 1,122 tests, the Kia Soul Maxx Ev passes its MOT 93.8% of the time. That is 1.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 8.2%. Its most common failure areas are tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 4.9% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 20 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.3% once past 60-90k — 2.9× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Soul Maxx Ev model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 149 | 95.3% | 4.7% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 973 | 93.5% | 6.5% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.9% | 55 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.8% | 20 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 9 |
| 4 | Steering | 0.4% | 4 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.1% | 1 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.1% | 1 |
| 7 | Suspension | 0.1% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 20 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 7 |
| 4 | Washers | 3 |
| 5 | Steering rack | 3 |
| 6 | Side repeaters | 2 |
| 7 | Pins and bushes | 2 |
| 8 | Ball joint | 1 |
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 | 21.7% | 243 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.3% | 48 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.4% | 38 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 34 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.3% | 3 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 3 |
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 | 812 | 4.6% |
| 30-60k | 278 | 10.4% |
| 60-90k | 30 | 13.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 114 | 3.5% |
| 2025 | 1,006 | 6.6% |
What to check before buying a Kia Soul Maxx Ev
- Tyres (4.9% 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 (1.8% 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 (0.8% 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 Maxx Ev?
93.8% of the 1,122 Kia Soul Maxx Ev MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 6.2% fail rate, across model years 2021–2022.
What does the Kia Soul Maxx Ev most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 4.9% of tests, then visibility (1.8%).
How much does mileage affect Soul Maxx Ev MOT results?
Fail rates run at 4.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 13.3% for 60-90k, a 8.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,122 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.