2009 Kia Soul — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 14,822 MOT tests, the 2009 Kia Soul recorded a 72.6% pass rate. That is 1.7 percentage points worse than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 25.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, steering and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.9%) and steering (11.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, position lamp and ball joint — track rod end alone was recorded 1,872 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.7% once past 150k — 3.7× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.6pp more often than petrol ones (28.7% vs 26.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 2,065 |
| 2 | Steering | 11.8% | 1,757 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.3% | 1,523 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.6% | 1,274 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.3% | 932 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.2% | 772 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 1,872 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,125 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 619 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 602 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 572 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 544 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 37.5% | 5,562 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.9% | 4,132 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.7% | 3,519 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 2,196 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.6% | 1,861 |
| 6 | Steering | 12.4% | 1,842 |
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 | 216 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,799 | 19.5% |
| 60-90k | 4,928 | 25.9% |
| 90-120k | 4,744 | 29.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,252 | 31.7% |
| 150k+ | 877 | 34.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,876 | 28.7% |
| Petrol | 6,946 | 26.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,176 | 25.0% |
| 2022 | 3,181 | 26.7% |
| 2023 | 3,042 | 27.6% |
| 2024 | 2,838 | 28.6% |
| 2025 | 2,585 | 30.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Soul
On a 2009 Soul, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Steering (11.8% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
- Brakes (10.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2009 Kia Souls pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 14,822 2009 Kia Soul MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Kia Soul?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by steering (11.8%).
Does the 2009 Soul get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 34.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,822 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.