2020 Kia Stinger — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Kia Stinger passed 91.9% of its 679 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 9.3% of the time, so this is 1.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.9%) and lighting & signalling (3.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 24 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.2% of tests failed in 2023 against 9.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.9% | 33 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 22 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.6% | 11 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.6% | 11 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 5 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.1% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 15 |
| 3 | Wipers | 14 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 11 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 2 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 2 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 20.0% | 136 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.3% | 104 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.8% | 26 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 20 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 4 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 2 |
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 | 394 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 257 | 10.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 642 | 7.9% |
| Diesel | 37 | 10.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 213 | 5.2% |
| 2024 | 229 | 9.2% |
| 2025 | 224 | 9.4% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Stinger
On a 2020 Stinger, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 (3.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2020 Kia Stingers pass their MOT?
91.9% of the 679 2020 Kia Stinger MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Kia Stinger?
Tyres, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.2%).
Does the 2020 Stinger get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 10.9% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 679 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.