2017 Kia Stonic — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,913 MOT tests, the 2017 Kia Stonic recorded a 91.0% pass rate. Against small SUVs of a similar age (11.9% fail rate), the 2017 Stonic comes out 2.8pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (4.1%) and visibility (3.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 130 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.1% once past 90-120k — 3.8× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.3pp more often than petrol ones (11.4% vs 8.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.1% | 159 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.7% | 145 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.1% | 122 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 74 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 26 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 11 |
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 | 130 |
| 2 | Wipers | 130 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 84 |
| 4 | Washers | 49 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 44 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 37 |
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 | 19.8% | 776 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.8% | 775 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.8% | 265 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 118 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 39 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 26 |
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 | 1,317 | 4.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,972 | 10.4% |
| 60-90k | 532 | 13.0% |
| 90-120k | 83 | 18.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,765 | 8.1% |
| Diesel | 1,148 | 11.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 757 | 5.7% |
| 2022 | 762 | 6.6% |
| 2023 | 807 | 10.4% |
| 2024 | 782 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 805 | 11.6% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Stonic
On a 2017 Stonic, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (4.1% 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.
- Visibility (3.7% 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.
- Tyres (3.1% 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.
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 2017 Kia Stonics pass their MOT?
91.0% of the 3,913 2017 Kia Stonic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Kia Stonic?
Brakes, recorded in 4.1% of tests, followed by visibility (3.7%).
Does the 2017 Stonic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.8% in the 0-30k band to 18.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,913 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.