2018 Kia Venga MOT pass rate: 92.2% (10,790 tests)
Is the 2018 Venga getting worse?
Pass rate of 2018-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 93.4% +5.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 91.6% +5.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 91.5% +6.8 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 2018 Venga
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 427 | 29.1% |
| 2 | Tyres | 424 | 28.9% |
| 3 | Visibility | 269 | 18.3% |
| 4 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 230 | 15.7% |
| 5 | Suspension | 54 | 3.7% |
| 6 | Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 18 | 1.2% |
All Venga years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 8,510 | 62.2% | -5.1 pts | 80,942 |
| 2011 | 12,583 | 63.4% | -5.7 pts | 75,046 |
| 2012 | 14,577 | 66.4% | -4.8 pts | 67,379 |
| 2013 | 16,576 | 70.9% | -2.4 pts | 61,134 |
| 2014 | 15,915 | 74.3% | -1.5 pts | 54,692 |
| 2015 | 18,319 | 84.7% | +6.0 pts | 46,517 |
| 2016 | 16,749 | 87.8% | +6.4 pts | 39,804 |
| 2017 | 17,398 | 89.9% | +5.9 pts | 33,390 |
| 2018 (this page) | 10,790 | 92.2% | +5.8 pts | 26,634 |
| 2019 | 7,822 | 92.9% | +4.5 pts | 19,890 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Kia Venga years to avoid.
- 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 2018 Kia Venga reliable?
2018-registered examples passed 92.2% of their MOT tests (10,790 tests, 2023–2025), +5.8 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 8 years old with a median 26,634 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2018 Venga?
The median tested example shows 26,634 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 2018 Venga?
In this cohort petrols pass 92.6% of tests against 88.4% 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.