2009 Kia Soul MOT pass rate: 61.5% (6,221 tests)
Is the 2009 Soul getting worse?
Pass rate of 2009-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 63.2% -3.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 61.7% -4.5 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 59.4% -6.7 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 2009 Soul
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 1,686 | 24.0% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,256 | 17.9% |
| 3 | Steering | 1,242 | 17.7% |
| 4 | Suspension | 1,158 | 16.5% |
| 5 | Tyres | 691 | 9.8% |
| 6 | Visibility | 412 | 5.9% |
All Soul years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 (this page) | 6,221 | 61.5% | -4.9 pts | 95,958 |
| 2010 | 8,538 | 63.8% | -3.5 pts | 91,070 |
| 2011 | 9,831 | 64.2% | -4.9 pts | 85,877 |
| 2012 | 4,752 | 65.4% | -5.8 pts | 74,989 |
| 2013 | 3,845 | 68.2% | -5.1 pts | 67,196 |
| 2014 | 7,775 | 79.1% | +3.3 pts | 63,228 |
| 2015 | 7,683 | 82.7% | +4.0 pts | 57,752 |
| 2016 | 6,303 | 84.8% | +3.4 pts | 49,195 |
| 2017 | 4,990 | 87.7% | +3.7 pts | 40,628 |
| 2018 | 5,786 | 89.7% | +3.3 pts | 33,945 |
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
- Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
- XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2009 Kia Soul reliable?
2009-registered examples passed 61.5% of their MOT tests (6,221 tests, 2023–2025), -4.9 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 17 years old with a median 95,958 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2009 Soul?
The median tested example shows 95,958 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.
Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2009 Soul?
In this cohort petrols pass 63.9% of tests against 59.3% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.
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.