Perodua Kenari MOT pass rate & common failures
1,881 MOT tests on the Perodua Kenari (2000–2016) give it a 75.7% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (26.8% fail rate), the Kenari comes out 2.5pp better. Its most common failure areas are emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (10.4%) and lighting & signalling (8.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and wipers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 127 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.6% once past 90-120k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 29.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Kenari model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 148 | 68.9% | 31.1% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2002 | 164 | 72.0% | 28.1% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2003 | 173 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2004 | 229 | 74.7% | 25.3% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2005 | 229 | 76.4% | 23.6% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2006 | 228 | 76.8% | 23.3% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2007 | 172 | 79.7% | 20.3% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2008 | 190 | 76.3% | 23.7% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2009 | 144 | 76.4% | 23.6% | Brakes |
| 2010 | 168 | 81.5% | 18.4% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 10.4% | 196 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 167 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 162 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.7% | 144 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.9% | 130 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.2% | 116 |
| 7 | Visibility | 5.9% | 111 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.6% | 49 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 127 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 123 |
| 3 | Wipers | 106 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 94 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 78 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 68 |
| 7 | Tread depth | 63 |
| 8 | Service brake imbalance | 60 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 29.9% | 563 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.2% | 512 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.1% | 510 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.0% | 245 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.6% | 219 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 172 |
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 | 353 | 18.4% |
| 30-60k | 959 | 24.2% |
| 60-90k | 499 | 28.5% |
| 90-120k | 53 | 22.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 483 | 21.7% |
| 2022 | 428 | 25.9% |
| 2023 | 375 | 22.4% |
| 2024 | 324 | 26.9% |
| 2025 | 271 | 25.8% |
What to check before buying a Perodua Kenari
- Emissions & environmental (10.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (8.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.6% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Perodua Kenari?
75.7% of the 1,881 Perodua Kenari MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 24.3% fail rate, across model years 2000–2016.
What does the Perodua Kenari most often fail its MOT on?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 10.4% of tests, then lighting & signalling (8.9%).
How much does mileage affect Kenari MOT results?
Fail rates run at 18.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 22.6% for 90-120k, a 4.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,881 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.