Kia Rio Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Kia Rio passes its MOT first time on 70.2% of tests, 3.6 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (73.8%). That puts it ahead of 27% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2018 Rio does best (beats 64% of cars) and the 2011 worst (beats 16%).

Of its engines, the 1.0 Petrol does best (beats 62%) and the 1.1 Diesel worst (beats 13%).

Watch these weak spots

Brakes1.4×as often as a typical car

Visibility1.5×as often as a typical car

Track rod ends3.1×as often as a typical car

Ball joint dust covers5.9×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 RioTypical 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 18%

Beats 14%

Beats 16%

Beats 19%

Beats 22%

Beats 23%

Beats 20%

Beats 23%

Beats 25%

Beats 16%

Beats 24%

Beats 20%

Beats 27%

Beats 46%

Beats 36%

Beats 59%

Beats 64%

Beats 50%

Beats 37%

Beats 45%

Beats 62%

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
1.2 Petrol	2011–2022	290,560	76.7%	Beats 36%	D
1.4 Petrol	2005–2019	280,298	67.2%	Beats 27%	D
1.5 Diesel	2005–2011	68,208	52.8%	Beats 20%	E
1.4 Diesel	2012–2018	62,720	70.3%	Beats 26%	D
1.1 Diesel	2011–2017	56,190	64.4%	Beats 13%	E
1.0 Petrol	2017–2022	41,741	86.9%	Beats 62%	B
1.3 Petrol	2002–2005	14,421	48.2%	Beats 15%	E
1.0 Hybrid	2021–2022	6,137	89.1%	Beats 55%	C

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

Brakes: 7.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 5.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.

Every MOT area

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

Lights & electrics

10.8% vs 9.8%

Brakes

7.6% vs 5.6%

Suspension

7.4% vs 7.6%

Tyres

6.8% vs 6.0%

Visibility

6.4% vs 4.4%

Steering

3.9% vs 1.4%

Emissions & leaks

2.0% vs 2.3%

Body & structure

2.0% vs 2.5%

Seat belts & airbags

1.0% vs 0.7%

Wheels

0.2% vs 0.3%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Track rod ends 3.1× typical
Feel for play or knocking in the steering and check for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres.
Windscreen wipers 1.6× typical
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
Sidelights 1.5× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
Suspension ball joints 1.5× typical
Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.
Brake performance 1.5× typical
On the test drive, brake firmly: the car should stop straight with no pulsing through the pedal.
Handbrake performance 1.5× typical
Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Kia RioTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Windscreen wipers	3.6%	2.2%	1.6×
Track rod ends	3.4%	1.1%	3.1×
Tyre damage & cracking	3.3%	3.4%	1.0×
Sidelights	3.2%	2.1%	1.5×
Tyre tread depth	3.1%	2.3%	1.4×
Windscreen washers	2.6%	1.9%	1.4×
Headlight aim	2.3%	2.7%	0.9×
Brake pads	2.2%	1.8%	1.2×
Ball joint dust covers	1.9%	0.3%	5.9×
Suspension ball joints	1.8%	1.2%	1.5×

Specific defects found

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

Defect	per 1,000
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen	35.4
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	31.8
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	31.1
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play	28.6
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	28.6
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	28.0
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	26.0
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	23.0

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.

2022 Kia Rio3 engines89.9% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	3,766	89.4%	Beats 60%	C
1.0 Hybrid	2,590	90.5%	Beats 68%	B
1.0 Petrol	2,153	90.0%	Beats 60%	C

2021 Kia Rio3 engines88.2% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	4,272	87.8%	Beats 39%	D
1.0 Hybrid	3,547	88.0%	Beats 44%	C
1.0 Petrol	2,592	89.3%	Beats 58%	C

2020 Kia Rio2 engines87.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	6,834	86.8%	Beats 35%	D
1.2 Petrol	5,414	87.3%	Beats 41%	C

2019 Kia Rio3 engines86.5% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	9,127	86.6%	Beats 55%	C
1.2 Petrol	7,525	85.4%	Beats 40%	D
1.4 Petrol	6,990	87.6%	Beats 54%	C

2018 Kia Rio4 engines86.5% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	15,791	86.1%	Beats 62%	B
1.0 Petrol	9,614	87.2%	Beats 71%	B
1.4 Petrol	6,823	87.0%	Beats 61%	B
1.4 Diesel	1,435	84.0%	Beats 68%	B

2017 Kia Rio5 engines84.2% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	23,268	84.5%	Beats 60%	C
1.0 Petrol	11,421	85.9%	Beats 70%	B
1.4 Petrol	10,001	86.0%	Beats 63%	B
1.4 Diesel	8,886	81.2%	Beats 53%	C
1.1 Diesel	1,750	73.9%	Beats 5%	E

2016 Kia Rio4 engines80.3% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	40,010	81.1%	Beats 41%	C
1.4 Petrol	16,777	81.9%	Beats 39%	D
1.4 Diesel	7,066	77.3%	Beats 34%	D
1.1 Diesel	5,708	73.7%	Beats 13%	E

2015 Kia Rio4 engines79.2% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	60,678	80.4%	Beats 54%	C
1.4 Petrol	21,682	80.9%	Beats 50%	C
1.4 Diesel	11,277	74.1%	Beats 27%	D
1.1 Diesel	7,193	71.9%	Beats 16%	E

2014 Kia Rio4 engines72.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	55,395	74.1%	Beats 33%	D
1.4 Petrol	19,256	74.7%	Beats 30%	D
1.1 Diesel	12,534	65.9%	Beats 11%	E
1.4 Diesel	10,873	68.2%	Beats 19%	E

2013 Kia Rio4 engines67.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	38,649	67.8%	Beats 20%	D
1.4 Petrol	25,538	70.2%	Beats 29%	D
1.4 Diesel	12,603	63.6%	Beats 19%	E
1.1 Diesel	12,531	61.9%	Beats 13%	E

2012 Kia Rio4 engines63.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	29,367	64.2%	Beats 22%	D
1.4 Petrol	27,561	67.6%	Beats 35%	D
1.1 Diesel	13,732	57.5%	Beats 12%	E
1.4 Diesel	10,580	60.6%	Beats 22%	D

2011 Kia Rio4 engines59.9% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	43,006	60.9%	Beats 15%	E
1.5 Diesel	10,994	55.7%	Beats 13%	E
1.2 Petrol	6,425	61.7%	Beats 19%	E
1.1 Diesel	2,742	58.6%	Beats 21%	D

2010 Kia Rio2 engines59.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	37,975	61.1%	Beats 27%	D
1.5 Diesel	19,105	55.0%	Beats 19%	E

2009 Kia Rio2 engines56.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	34,985	57.7%	Beats 22%	D
1.5 Diesel	12,329	54.7%	Beats 25%	D

2008 Kia Rio2 engines52.5% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	13,451	53.9%	Beats 19%	E
1.5 Diesel	8,964	50.4%	Beats 20%	D

2007 Kia Rio2 engines51.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	7,340	49.1%	Beats 20%	D
1.4 Petrol	7,168	54.8%	Beats 25%	D

2006 Kia Rio2 engines50.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	6,757	48.1%	Beats 23%	D
1.4 Petrol	6,266	52.3%	Beats 21%	D

2005 Kia Rio3 engines49.0% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.3 Petrol	3,145	47.9%	Beats 13%	E
1.4 Petrol	2,819	52.5%	Beats 26%	D
1.5 Diesel	2,719	46.8%	Beats 21%	D

2004 Kia Rio1 engine48.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.3 Petrol	6,315	48.3%	Beats 16%	E

2003 Kia Rio1 engine47.5% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.3 Petrol	3,480	47.5%	Beats 14%	E

2002 Kia Rio1 engine50.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.3 Petrol	1,481	50.3%	Beats 18%	E

FAQ

What is the Kia Rio MOT pass rate?

70.2% of MOT tests on the Kia Rio were passed first time, based on 820,275 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2002–2022. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 73.8% of the time.

Is the Kia Rio 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 27% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Kia Rio year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2018 Rio does best for its age and mileage: it beats 64% of cars on UK roads. The 2011 does worst: it beats 16%.

Which Kia Rio engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.0 Petrol does best: it beats 62% of cars on UK roads. The 1.1 Diesel does worst: it beats 13%.

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

The most common failure items are windscreen wipers, track rod ends, tyre damage & cracking. Compared with similar cars, track rod ends comes up 3.1× 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 Rio 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