Kia Picanto MOT pass rate: 76.2% (180,724 tests, 2025)

The Kia Picanto passed 76.2% of its 180,724 MOT tests in 2025 — 1.3 points below the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 10 years old with 44,543 miles on the clock.
76.2%Pass rate (2025)
180,724MOT tests analysed
44,543 miMedian mileage at test
10 yrsMedian age at test

How the Picanto compares

Kia Picanto

76.2%

UK average (all Class 4 vehicles)

77.5% across 33.1 million tests

Kia average (all models)

79.8%

What fails most on the Kia Picanto

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the Picanto:

#SystemDefects recordedShare
1Brakes33,22130.5%
2Suspension18,16716.7%
3Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment15,76314.5%
4Tyres15,63914.4%
5Visibility9,3818.6%
6Noise, emissions and leaks6,7586.2%

Pre-MOT checklist for Picanto owners

Based on the failure profile above, ten minutes with a torch before your test removes the most likely fail items:

  • Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
  • Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system
  • Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
  • Check tread with the 20p test and inspect sidewalls for cracking — tyres close to the limit are the country’s most common advisory
  • Replace smeared wiper blades and top up washer fluid — both are test items
Check the engine before the tester does

A stored fault code with the engine light on is an automatic Major defect. Scan and clear resolved faults before booking.

Picanto pass rate by registration year

Lower age-adjusted outliers to inspect carefully: 2005, 2006, 2007. Strongest age-adjusted years: 2018, 2020. Full ranking and method: Kia Picanto years to avoid.

Registration yearTestsPass rateVs same-ageMedian mileage
2004 5,152 59.5% -4.8 pts 73,020
2005 10,318 57.8% -6.7 pts 72,054
2006 11,573 56.5% -7.9 pts 70,194
2007 7,902 59.6% -5.5 pts 68,195
2008 9,312 60.6% -4.5 pts 69,023
2009 37,403 62.5% -3.9 pts 61,354
2010 38,239 63.8% -3.6 pts 61,874
2011 31,122 65.0% -4.2 pts 62,841
2012 38,959 68.0% -3.2 pts 61,138
2013 37,734 72.3% -1.0 pts 54,450
2014 42,887 76.9% +1.1 pts 48,517
2015 40,287 79.8% +1.1 pts 42,454
2016 37,097 80.3% -1.0 pts 36,816
2017 39,227 85.3% +1.3 pts 32,429
2018 48,131 88.8% +2.4 pts 27,567
2019 47,943 89.8% +1.4 pts 21,869
2020 23,322 91.9% +2.0 pts 17,839
2021 16,314 91.8% +1.4 pts 16,426
2022 6,639 91.5% +0.3 pts 15,562

Check a specific Picanto before you buy

Pass rates describe the model; they can’t tell you about the one car you’re looking at. Run its plate through our free MOT history check to see its personal record of failures, advisories and mileage readings.

Other Kia models

SPORTAGE78.9% pass rate · 253,493 tests Ceed72.5% pass rate · 111,091 tests Rio75.4% pass rate · 95,713 tests Niro90.5% pass rate · 54,779 tests Venga77.7% pass rate · 46,179 tests Sorento73.0% pass rate · 30,615 tests Soul73.2% pass rate · 21,811 tests Stonic89.1% pass rate · 18,986 tests

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a Kia Picanto?

In 2025, 76.2% of 180,724 first MOT tests on the Kia Picanto were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the Picanto fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is brakes (30.5% of its recorded defects), followed by suspension.

Is the Kia Picanto reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 76.2% it performs below the national average at a median age of 10 years and 44,543 miles. Always check the individual car's history too.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 extract (Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures rounded to one decimal place.