2013 Kia Soul — MOT failures & pass rate
8,315 MOT tests on the 2013 Kia Soul are in this dataset, and 77.1% of them passed. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 20.7% of the time, so this is 2.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and steering.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.3%) and lighting & signalling (8.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, ball joint dust cover and headlamp aim — track rod end alone was recorded 753 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.9% in the 0-30k band and 33.7% in the 150k+ band, a 21.8-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 22.0% of the time against 23.3% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.3% | 770 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 736 |
| 3 | Steering | 8.0% | 667 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.0% | 497 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.2% | 436 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 391 |
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 | 753 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 472 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 290 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 241 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 238 |
| 6 | Washers | 236 |
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 | 28.4% | 2,359 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.8% | 2,307 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.6% | 1,211 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.2% | 685 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 601 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.2% | 512 |
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 | 612 | 11.9% |
| 30-60k | 3,162 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,939 | 26.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,219 | 29.4% |
| 120-150k | 300 | 30.3% |
| 150k+ | 83 | 33.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,691 | 23.3% |
| Petrol | 2,624 | 22.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,603 | 18.3% |
| 2022 | 1,670 | 22.2% |
| 2023 | 1,696 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 1,678 | 24.5% |
| 2025 | 1,668 | 25.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Soul
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 9.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (9.3% 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 (8.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Steering (8.0% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
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 2013 Kia Souls pass their MOT?
77.1% of the 8,315 2013 Kia Soul MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Kia Soul?
Suspension, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.8%).
Does the 2013 Soul get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.9% in the 0-30k band to 33.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,315 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.