2012 Kia Soul — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Kia Soul passed 75.1% of its 10,614 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.6 percentage points worse than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 22.3%. Failures cluster in steering, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — steering (10.2%) and suspension (10.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, ball joint dust cover and headlamp aim — track rod end alone was recorded 1,195 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.3% in the 0-30k band and 31.7% in the 150k+ band, a 18.4-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 23.9% of the time against 25.3% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steering | 10.2% | 1,081 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.1% | 1,076 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 960 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.1% | 750 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.5% | 582 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.9% | 413 |
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 | 1,195 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 493 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 370 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 350 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 321 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 300 |
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 | 30.7% | 3,261 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.5% | 2,918 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.1% | 1,816 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.8% | 1,042 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.3% | 773 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 721 |
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 | 563 | 13.3% |
| 30-60k | 3,108 | 20.9% |
| 60-90k | 4,193 | 25.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,008 | 30.0% |
| 120-150k | 593 | 30.3% |
| 150k+ | 145 | 31.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,473 | 25.3% |
| Petrol | 3,141 | 23.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,107 | 21.7% |
| 2022 | 2,162 | 24.3% |
| 2023 | 2,146 | 24.8% |
| 2024 | 2,121 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 2,078 | 27.2% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Soul
On a 2012 Soul, steering is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Steering (10.2% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
- Suspension (10.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (9.0% 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 2012 Kia Souls pass their MOT?
75.1% of the 10,614 2012 Kia Soul MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Kia Soul?
Steering, recorded in 10.2% of tests, followed by suspension (10.1%).
Does the 2012 Soul get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 0-30k band to 31.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,614 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.