Kia Unclassified MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 2,943 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 37.2%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Kia Unclassified MOT Reliability Overview
The Kia Unclassified is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 2,943 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 20 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 62.8% and a failure rate of 37.2%, which is around the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Kia Unclassified earns a "Average" reliability rating. The average Kia Unclassified presents for MOT with approximately 68,708 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2018 models achieve the highest pass rate at 89.5%, while 1999 models have the lowest at 37.8%. This 51.7 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Kia Unclassified is Brakes, affecting 33.8% of all tests. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. The second most common issue is Tyres at 20.8%. Suspension rounds out the top three at 19.3%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 47.3% | 1,392 |
| 2 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 37.0% | 1,089 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.1% | 738 |
| 4 | Suspension | 24.1% | 708 |
| 5 | Driver's View Of The Road | 7.5% | 220 |
| 6 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 5.6% | 165 |
| 7 | Steering | 4.6% | 136 |
| 8 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 2.7% | 78 |
| 9 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 2.7% | 78 |
| 10 | Visibility | 2.6% | 76 |
| 11 | Body, Structure And General Items | 2.2% | 66 |
| 12 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 2.2% | 66 |
| 13 | Non-component Advisories | 2.1% | 63 |
| 14 | Registration Plates And Vin | 1.2% | 34 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 68,708 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 6.88 | 47.3% | 1,392 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 5.38 | 37.0% | 1,089 |
| Tyres | 3.65 | 25.1% | 738 |
| Suspension | 3.50 | 24.1% | 708 |
| Visibility | 1.47 | 10.1% | 296 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.82 | 5.6% | 165 |
| Body & Structure | 0.72 | 4.9% | 144 |
| Steering | 0.67 | 4.6% | 136 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.39 | 2.7% | 78 |
| Seat Belts | 0.33 | 2.2% | 66 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.31 | 2.1% | 63 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.17 | 1.2% | 34 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Kia Unclassified has 68,708 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Kia Unclassified has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 5.41% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Kia Unclassified MOT Data
The Kia Unclassified is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 2,943 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 20 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 62.8% and a failure rate of 37.2%, which is around the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Kia Unclassified owners, these results suggest average reliability — some preparation before MOT can improve pass chances. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and tyres for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Unclassified is likely to perform.
Brakes — 33.8% of failures
Brakes issues account for 33.8% of MOT failures on the Kia Unclassified. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Tyres — 20.8% of failures
Tyres issues account for 20.8% of MOT failures on the Kia Unclassified. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Suspension — 19.3% of failures
Suspension issues account for 19.3% of MOT failures on the Kia Unclassified. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Kia Unclassified?
Based on 2,943 MOT tests in our database, the Kia Unclassified has an overall pass rate of 62.8% (37.2% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Kia Unclassified?
The top 3 reasons a Kia Unclassified fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (33.8%), 2. Tyres (20.8%), 3. Suspension (19.3%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Kia Unclassified reliable?
With a 37.2% MOT failure rate, the Unclassified is about average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Kia Unclassified?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (33.8%); Tyres (20.8%); Suspension (19.3%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.