Kia Ceed Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Kia Ceed passes its MOT first time on 68.1% of tests, 3.6 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (71.7%). That puts it ahead of 30% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2018 Ceed does best (beats 51% of cars) and the 2011 worst (beats 10%).

Of its engines, the 1.0 Petrol does best (beats 42%) and the 1.4 Diesel worst (beats 20%).

Better than average on body & structure, emissions & leaks.

Watch these weak spots

Lights & electrics1.3×as often as a typical car

Brakes1.5×as often as a typical car

Track rod ends2.4×as often as a typical car

Handbrake performance2.4×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Kia CeedTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

Beats 27%

Beats 27%

Beats 26%

Beats 20%

Beats 10%

Beats 18%

Beats 35%

Beats 37%

Beats 47%

Beats 50%

Beats 49%

Beats 51%

Beats 44%

Beats 27%

Beats 24%

Beats 32%

Beats 29%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	2007–2020	572,992	66.6%	Beats 27%	D
1.6 Petrol	2007–2018	167,998	66.8%	Beats 35%	D
1.4 Petrol	2007–2020	139,452	68.4%	Beats 29%	D
1.0 Petrol	2015–2022	52,888	83.6%	Beats 42%	C
1.4 Diesel	2012–2016	28,012	67.0%	Beats 20%	D
1.5 Petrol	2021–2023	16,108	86.2%	Beats 34%	D
1.6 Hybrid	2021–2021	5,373	81.5%	Beats 22%	D
2.0 Diesel	2008–2009	4,331	54.0%	Beats 37%	D

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Lights: 14.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 11.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics

14.1% vs 11.0%

Brakes

9.0% vs 6.2%

Suspension

8.1% vs 8.4%

Tyres

7.6% vs 6.7%

Visibility

5.8% vs 4.6%

Steering

3.9% vs 1.6%

Body & structure

1.6% vs 2.7%

Emissions & leaks

1.6% vs 2.6%

Seat belts & airbags

0.3% vs 0.8%

Wheels

0.3% vs 0.4%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Track rod ends 2.4× typical
Feel for play or knocking in the steering and check for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres.
Handbrake performance 2.4× typical
Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope.
Brake lights 1.7× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
Brake performance 2.1× typical
On the test drive, brake firmly: the car should stop straight with no pulsing through the pedal.
Headlight bulbs & units 1.5× typical
Check dipped and main beam on both sides.
Suspension arm bushes 1.5× typical
Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Kia CeedTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Tyre damage & cracking	4.3%	3.6%	1.2×
Sidelights	3.9%	2.6%	1.5×
Brake lights	3.5%	2.1%	1.7×
Tyre tread depth	3.1%	2.7%	1.1×
Track rod ends	3.1%	1.3%	2.4×
Headlight bulbs & units	3.0%	2.0%	1.5×
Headlight aim	2.9%	3.0%	1.0×
Windscreen washers	2.9%	2.1%	1.4×
Handbrake performance	2.7%	1.1%	2.4×
Windscreen wipers	2.6%	2.2%	1.2×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	47.4
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	32.5
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	31.1
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	30.5
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	29.4
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play	28.7
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	28.5
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED	27.8

Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2023 Kia Ceed1 engine85.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Petrol	3,085	85.2%	Beats 29%	D

2022 Kia Ceed2 engines86.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Petrol	9,463	86.6%	Beats 35%	D
1.0 Petrol	2,602	84.2%	Beats 23%	D

2021 Kia Ceed3 engines83.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Hybrid	5,373	81.5%	Beats 22%	D
1.0 Petrol	4,459	84.5%	Beats 20%	D
1.5 Petrol	3,560	86.2%	Beats 35%	D

2020 Kia Ceed3 engines83.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	6,117	84.5%	Beats 25%	D
1.6 Diesel	4,778	81.1%	Beats 26%	D
1.4 Petrol	4,736	86.0%	Beats 32%	D

2019 Kia Ceed3 engines83.5% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	20,381	81.4%	Beats 40%	D
1.0 Petrol	14,952	84.0%	Beats 40%	D
1.4 Petrol	12,637	86.3%	Beats 56%	C

2018 Kia Ceed4 engines82.9% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	33,776	81.5%	Beats 46%	C
1.0 Petrol	9,095	83.6%	Beats 42%	C
1.4 Petrol	6,712	87.7%	Beats 76%	B
1.6 Petrol	5,723	84.9%	Beats 62%	B

2017 Kia Ceed4 engines81.0% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	45,244	80.2%	Beats 48%	C
1.0 Petrol	6,088	83.5%	Beats 54%	C
1.6 Petrol	5,536	84.4%	Beats 61%	B
1.4 Petrol	1,915	82.3%	Beats 42%	C

2016 Kia Ceed5 engines79.3% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	52,869	78.6%	Beats 51%	C
1.4 Petrol	8,352	80.2%	Beats 41%	C
1.0 Petrol	6,852	81.7%	Beats 52%	C
1.6 Petrol	5,743	83.0%	Beats 65%	B
1.4 Diesel	3,016	75.8%	Beats 25%	D

2015 Kia Ceed5 engines77.0% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	58,073	75.9%	Beats 46%	C
1.6 Petrol	19,650	79.8%	Beats 56%	C
1.4 Petrol	14,774	78.4%	Beats 47%	C
1.4 Diesel	5,096	72.7%	Beats 24%	D
1.0 Petrol	2,723	81.7%	Beats 66%	B

2014 Kia Ceed4 engines72.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	58,179	70.6%	Beats 34%	D
1.6 Petrol	21,467	76.4%	Beats 52%	C
1.4 Petrol	13,026	74.1%	Beats 36%	D
1.4 Diesel	7,190	67.2%	Beats 18%	E

2013 Kia Ceed4 engines67.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	64,644	66.5%	Beats 34%	D
1.6 Petrol	18,371	73.6%	Beats 56%	C
1.4 Diesel	10,966	63.1%	Beats 20%	D
1.4 Petrol	5,454	67.4%	Beats 21%	D

2012 Kia Ceed4 engines60.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	80,932	59.1%	Beats 17%	E
1.6 Petrol	12,773	66.3%	Beats 27%	D
1.4 Petrol	10,479	62.3%	Beats 16%	E
1.4 Diesel	1,744	58.4%	Beats 14%	E

2011 Kia Ceed3 engines54.0% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	48,864	52.4%	Beats 9%	E
1.4 Petrol	9,624	57.8%	Beats 13%	E
1.6 Petrol	9,076	58.1%	Beats 12%	E

2010 Kia Ceed3 engines55.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	44,467	52.9%	Beats 19%	E
1.4 Petrol	19,991	58.0%	Beats 23%	D
1.6 Petrol	13,937	58.5%	Beats 26%	D

2009 Kia Ceed4 engines54.6% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	27,367	51.3%	Beats 22%	D
1.6 Petrol	22,664	56.1%	Beats 28%	D
1.4 Petrol	19,760	57.3%	Beats 29%	D
2.0 Diesel	2,223	56.1%	Beats 41%	C

2008 Kia Ceed4 engines52.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	22,271	53.5%	Beats 27%	D
1.6 Diesel	20,922	50.3%	Beats 26%	D
1.4 Petrol	6,265	53.4%	Beats 26%	D
2.0 Diesel	2,108	51.8%	Beats 33%	D

2007 Kia Ceed3 engines50.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	12,496	47.7%	Beats 21%	D
1.6 Petrol	10,787	53.8%	Beats 33%	D
1.4 Petrol	5,727	52.4%	Beats 29%	D

FAQ

What is the Kia Ceed MOT pass rate?

68.1% of MOT tests on the Kia Ceed were passed first time, based on 987,154 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2007–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 71.7% of the time.

Is the Kia Ceed reliable?

On MOT results it rates D (below average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 30% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Kia Ceed year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2018 Ceed does best for its age and mileage: it beats 51% of cars on UK roads. The 2011 does worst: it beats 10%.

Which Kia Ceed engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.0 Petrol does best: it beats 42% of cars on UK roads. The 1.4 Diesel does worst: it beats 20%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Kia Ceed?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, sidelights, brake lights. Compared with similar cars, track rod ends comes up 2.4× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

Kia Ceed reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ