2014 Kia Soul — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 15,528 MOT tests, the 2014 Kia Soul recorded an 84.4% pass rate. That is 3.1 percentage points better than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 18.6%. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (7.2%) and tyres (4.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, tread depth and rbt (sp) — brake pads alone was recorded 447 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.8% versus 8.3%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 15.0% of the time against 15.9% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 25.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 7.2% | 1,118 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.9% | 763 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 751 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 496 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.0% | 468 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.2% | 338 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 447 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 393 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 378 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 366 |
| 5 | Wipers | 344 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 283 |
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 | 25.2% | 3,920 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.0% | 3,882 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.1% | 1,253 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.8% | 1,212 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 614 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 523 |
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 | 1,620 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 6,643 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 4,955 | 17.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,791 | 21.0% |
| 120-150k | 401 | 23.9% |
| 150k+ | 118 | 28.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,534 | 15.9% |
| Petrol | 4,904 | 15.0% |
| Electric | 90 | 13.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,047 | 11.9% |
| 2022 | 3,073 | 13.5% |
| 2023 | 3,134 | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 3,116 | 17.6% |
| 2025 | 3,158 | 19.0% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Soul
On a 2014 Soul, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (7.2% 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.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.8% 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
How many 2014 Kia Souls pass their MOT?
84.4% of the 15,528 2014 Kia Soul MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Kia Soul?
Brakes, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by tyres (4.9%).
Does the 2014 Soul get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 0-30k band to 28.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,528 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.