2010 Kia Soul — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 19,712 MOT tests analysed for the 2010 Kia Soul, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, steering and brakes. Its pass rate of 73.6% was below the average for cars of a similar age (76.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 31.5% in the 150k+ group versus 14.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 2,384 |
| 2 | Steering | 11.9% | 2,340 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.1% | 1,787 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.0% | 1,568 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.5% | 1,081 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 958 |
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 | 2,559 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,347 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 743 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 715 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 624 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 621 |
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 | 34.1% | 6,716 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.0% | 5,517 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.3% | 3,605 |
| 4 | Steering | 11.5% | 2,257 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.0% | 1,964 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 1,884 |
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 | 255 | 14.5% |
| 30-60k | 3,243 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 7,211 | 25.5% |
| 90-120k | 5,903 | 29.0% |
| 120-150k | 2,377 | 31.6% |
| 150k+ | 714 | 31.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 14,341 | 26.5% |
| Petrol | 5,371 | 26.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,061 | 24.2% |
| 2022 | 4,166 | 26.5% |
| 2023 | 3,983 | 26.2% |
| 2024 | 3,891 | 28.1% |
| 2025 | 3,611 | 27.5% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Soul
Before buying a 2010 Kia Soul, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 12.1% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (12.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Steering (11.9% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
- Brakes (9.1% 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 2010 Kia Souls pass their MOT?
73.6% of the 19,712 2010 Kia Soul MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Kia Soul?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.1% of tests, followed by steering (11.9%).
Does the 2010 Soul get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.5% in the 0-30k band to 31.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,712 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.