2021 Kia Stinger — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 333 MOT tests, the 2021 Kia Stinger recorded a 92.5% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (8.6% fail rate), the 2021 Stinger comes out 1.1pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.1%) and lighting & signalling (2.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 13 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.1% | 17 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 9 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.1% | 7 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.8% | 6 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.3% | 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 | 13 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 8 |
| 3 | Wipers | 7 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 3 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 2 |
| 6 | Washers | 1 |
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 | 18.6% | 62 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.7% | 39 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.4% | 18 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.2% | 14 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 1 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 1 |
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 | 232 | 5.6% |
| 30-60k | 95 | 11.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 165 | 7.9% |
| 2025 | 161 | 7.4% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Stinger
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.1% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.1% 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 (2.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.1% 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 2021 Kia Stingers pass their MOT?
92.5% of the 333 2021 Kia Stinger MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Kia Stinger?
Tyres, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.7%).
Does the 2021 Stinger get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.6% in the 0-30k band to 11.6% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 333 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.