2014 Kia Venga — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 32,730 MOT tests, the 2014 Kia Venga recorded an 82.0% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail 19.1% of the time, so this is 1.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, steering and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.7%) and steering (7.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, position lamp and ball joint dust cover — track rod end alone was recorded 2,599 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.9% in the 0-30k band and 32.7% in the 150k+ band, a 24.8-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.0pp more often than petrol ones (20.8% vs 16.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 3,161 |
| 2 | Steering | 7.0% | 2,306 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.5% | 1,471 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.4% | 1,438 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.1% | 1,355 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 1,104 |
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 | 2,599 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,796 |
| 3 | Ball joint dust cover | 874 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 837 |
| 5 | Washers | 789 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 730 |
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 | 24.9% | 8,158 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.1% | 7,902 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.7% | 3,825 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.0% | 2,621 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.7% | 1,850 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.4% | 1,778 |
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 | 5,062 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 15,702 | 16.2% |
| 60-90k | 8,768 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,527 | 28.5% |
| 120-150k | 520 | 28.8% |
| 150k+ | 150 | 32.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 22,844 | 16.8% |
| Diesel | 9,886 | 20.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,183 | 12.0% |
| 2022 | 6,431 | 15.6% |
| 2023 | 6,637 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 6,685 | 20.7% |
| 2025 | 6,794 | 22.6% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Venga
On a 2014 Venga, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Steering (7.0% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
- Brakes (4.5% 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.
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 Vengas pass their MOT?
82.0% of the 32,730 2014 Kia Venga MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Kia Venga?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.7% of tests, followed by steering (7.0%).
Does the 2014 Venga get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 32.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 32,730 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.