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Kia Cerato MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Kia Cerato. Check any Cerato by registration number below.

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64.2%

Avg Pass Rate

-22.0%

vs Kia Avg

5

Year Ranges

Below Average

Reliability

Kia Cerato — MOT Reliability Overview

The Kia Cerato has an average MOT pass rate of 64.2%, which is 22.0 percentage points below the Kia brand average of 86.2%. This suggests the Cerato can be more maintenance-intensive than average. Pay close attention to the common failure points listed below if you are considering buying one.

The most common reasons a Kia Cerato fails its MOT are the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired. If you are preparing your Cerato for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used Kia Cerato, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Kia Cerato performs at MOT across different model years.

2007

Based on 836 vehicles

93.2%Excellent
Kia average: 86.2%
Dangerous Defects

9.8%

Retest Rate

47.5%

Mileage at 10yr

117k mi

2006

Based on 798 vehicles

57.1%Below Average
Kia average: 86.2%
Dangerous Defects

9.5%

Retest Rate

31.9%

2005

Based on 900 vehicles

56.4%Below Average
Kia average: 86.2%
Dangerous Defects

8.8%

Retest Rate

27.9%

2004

Based on 243 vehicles

47.3%Poor
Kia average: 86.2%
Dangerous Defects

11.1%

Retest Rate

47.6%

0

Based on 1,352 vehicles

67.0%Average
Kia average: 86.2%
Mileage at 5yr

86k mi

Top MOT Failures — Kia Cerato

The most common reasons a Kia Cerato fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

1

The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements

6.2%
2

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded

4.7%
3

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

4.5%
4

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

4.5%
5

A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

4.1%
Kia Cerato Common Faults & Repair Costs

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Front Nearside

11.8%

Front Offside

8.2%

Rear Offside

5.5%

Other Kia Models

Compare MOT reliability across Kia models.

Kia Magentis

60.1% pass rate

Kia X Ceed

100.0% pass rate

Kia Carens

56.6% pass rate

Kia Xceed Edition Isg

90.2% pass rate

Kia Ceed

87.6% pass rate

Kia Sorento

80.3% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for Kia Cerato

Kia Cerato — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Kia Cerato MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Kia Cerato?
The average MOT pass rate for the Kia Cerato is 64.2% compared to the Kia average of 86.2%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.
What are the most common MOT failures on a Kia Cerato?
The most common MOT failures on the Kia Cerato are: The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (6.2%), Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded (4.7%), The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired (4.5%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.
Is the Kia Cerato reliable?
With an average MOT pass rate of 64.2%, the Kia Cerato is rated as "Below Average" for reliability. This is around average — regular maintenance is recommended to avoid common failure points.
How do I check the MOT history of a Kia Cerato?
Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.
What mileage should I expect on a Kia Cerato?
Typical mileage for the Kia Cerato: 116,879 miles at 10 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used Cerato to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Kia Cerato's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.

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