2012 Kia Picanto MOT pass rate: 68.0% (38,959 tests)
Is the 2012 Picanto getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 69.6% -2.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 67.8% -3.1 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 66.5% -3.8 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2012 Picanto
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11,328 | 33.9% |
| 2 | Suspension | 6,073 | 18.2% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 4,675 | 14.0% |
| 4 | Tyres | 3,799 | 11.4% |
| 5 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 2,703 | 8.1% |
| 6 | Visibility | 2,170 | 6.5% |
All Picanto years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median 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 (this page) | 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 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Kia Picanto years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2012 Kia Picanto reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 68.0% of their MOT tests (38,959 tests, 2023–2025), -3.2 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 61,138 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2012 Picanto?
The median tested example shows 61,138 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.