Kia Rio years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year
Kia Rio years with MOT pass rates below the average for vehicles first used in the same year: 2008–2014. Above it: 2015–2018 and 2022. The other 3 years can't be told apart from average.
- Below the average for their first-use year2008–2014
- Above the average for their first-use year2015–2018 and 2022
- Can't be told apart from average2019–2021
The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.
First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 70.4% to 71.0%.
In 2025, 70.7% of the 96,887 initial MOT tests on Kia Rio cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 71.7%. That is 1.0 points below the same-age average.
Check a specific Rio
Kia Rio MOT pass rate by year
| Year | Chart | Testsmedian miles | Passed first time | Against all vehicles that year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022age 3 | 4,65720,300 | 91.1%±0.9 | +2.6 ptsall: 88.5% | |
| 2021age 4 | 3,65625,300 | 86.6%±1.2 | −0.6 ptsall: 87.2% | |
| 2020age 5 | 3,38430,400 | 85.4%±1.3 | −0.6 ptsall: 86.0% | |
| 2019age 6 | 4,84336,300 | 84.0%±1.1 | +0.5 ptsall: 83.5% | |
| 2018age 7 | 5,72544,100 | 84.7%±1.0 | +3.8 ptsall: 80.9% | |
| 2017age 8 | 8,01451,600 | 81.3%±0.9 | +3.1 ptsall: 78.2% | |
| 2016age 9 | 8,79554,800 | 76.4%±0.9 | +1.5 ptsall: 74.9% | |
| 2015age 10 | 11,31462,200 | 74.3%±0.9 | +2.4 ptsall: 71.9% | |
| 2014age 11 | 10,77971,500 | 65.8%±1.0 | −2.8 ptsall: 68.6% | |
| 2013age 12 | 9,56879,200 | 61.5%±1.0 | −4.3 ptsall: 65.8% | |
| 2012age 13 | 8,56486,600 | 59.6%±1.1 | −3.9 ptsall: 63.5% | |
| 2011age 14 | 6,36182,300 | 54.8%±1.3 | −6.4 ptsall: 61.2% | |
| 2010age 15 | 5,41484,600 | 55.0%±1.4 | −4.3 ptsall: 59.3% | |
| 2009age 16 | 4,15981,800 | 54.2%±1.6 | −4.1 ptsall: 58.3% | |
| 2008age 17 | 1,65489,200 | 51.5%±2.5 | −5.7 ptsall: 57.2% |
Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.
When a car's mileage doesn't add upCommon Rio problems at the MOT
MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.
What to check when viewing a Rio
Lights and electrics
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Warning lights on the dashboard should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts.
Suspension
- Push down hard on each corner. The car should rise once and settle, not keep bouncing.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- The car should sit level when parked on flat ground.
Brakes
- On a clear road, brake firmly. The car should stop in a straight line without juddering or pulling to one side.
- Check the handbrake holds the car on a slope.
- Look through the wheels at the brake discs for deep grooves or a raised lip at the edge.
Tyres
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.
Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.
Check a Rio's MOT historyAfter an MOT advisory
Tyres
Of Kia Rio cars that passed their 2024 MOT with a tyre advisory and came back for their next MOT 10–14 months later, 8.5% failed on tyres, against 4.9% of similar cars with nothing noted. Based on 12,288 and 40,183 cars.
Cars not tested again in that window are not included: 9.4% of those with a tyre advisory and 8.0% of the others.
Brakes
Of Kia Rio cars that passed their 2024 MOT with a brake advisory and came back for their next MOT 10–14 months later, 10.8% failed on brakes, against 5.8% of similar cars with nothing noted. Based on 10,022 and 42,403 cars.
Cars not tested again in that window are not included: 10.4% of those with a brake advisory and 7.9% of the others.
Suspension
Of Kia Rio cars that passed their 2024 MOT with a suspension advisory and came back for their next MOT 10–14 months later, 15.6% failed on suspension, against 8.8% of similar cars with nothing noted. Based on 5,304 and 46,022 cars.
Cars not tested again in that window are not included: 13.8% of those with a suspension advisory and 7.7% of the others.
Similar cars are the same model, first-use year and mileage band. Areas are the DVSA's top-level groups, so the later fail may not be the fault that was advised. These figures describe what happened to these cars. They don't show what a repair would have changed.
How we worked this outKia Rio questions
Which Kia Rio years have lower MOT pass rates?
Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, these model years have below-average MOT pass rates: 2008–2014. Above average: 2015–2018 and 2022. The rest can't be told apart from average. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.
Is the Kia Rio reliable?
MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 70.7% of initial MOT tests on Kia Rio cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 71.7%. That is 1.0 points below average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.
What are the most common Kia Rio problems at the MOT?
The most common failure areas are lights and electrics (in 37.2% of failed tests), suspension (in 25.7% of failed tests) and brakes (in 25.0% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.
What mileage is normal for a 10-year-old Kia Rio?
At their 2025 MOT tests, Kia Rio cars first used in 2015, about 10 years old, had a median of 62,200 miles. Half had more and half had less.
How do I check a specific Rio's MOT history?
Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.
Check a car's MOT history for freeWhat MOT data can't tell you about any Kia Rio
Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.
Compare history checksWhat MOT history doesn't showOther Kia models
- Kia Sportage−0.6 pts against the same-age average
- Kia Picanto−1.1 pts against the same-age average
- Kia Ceed−3.9 pts against the same-age average
- Kia Niro+1.4 pts against the same-age average
- Kia Venga+0.3 pts against the same-age average
- Kia Sorento−1.3 pts against the same-age average
Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.
All 13 Kia modelsCars ranked by MOT pass rate, by ageSource: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Kia Rio cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count