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MOT results · tests in 2025 · Great Britain

Kia Ceed reliability: what the MOT shows

122,168 Ceeds had an MOT in 2025. 68.1% passed first time, against 71.3% for other cars of the same age and mileage. Most of the gap comes from cars registered from 2007 to 2012, which fail on lights and electrics 1.4 times as often as comparable cars. Those registered from 2022 onwards pass as often as other cars their age.

68.1%passed first time
−3.2points against cars of the same age and mileage
2.3×as many steering failures as comparable cars
Report card

Kia Ceed MOT results by registration year

Each dot compares how often Ceeds of that year failed on one area of the test with cars of the same age and mileage.

Much betterBetterAbout the sameWorseMuch worse
YearPassed first timeAgainst same age and mileageMOTsSuspensionSteeringBrakesTyresLights & electricsVisibilityBody & structureEmissions & leaks
200750.9%−6.21,986
200848.3%−8.33,690
200951.6%−6.26,050
201051.3%−7.66,989
201150.8%−9.66,529
201255.3%−6.910,997
201361.0%−3.310,605
201463.6%−4.310,840
201571.0%−0.111,087
201674.1%−0.09,552
201777.3%−0.18,534
201880.3%+0.09,190
201983.0%+0.19,958
202083.5%−2.14,278
202183.6%−2.95,194
202287.0%−1.36,688

Much worse: failed on that area at least 1.5 times as often. Worse: 1.15 to 1.5 times. Better: up to 0.87 times. Much better: two-thirds as often or less. Gaps under half a percentage point count as about the same. Registration year is the year the car was first used.

Kia Ceed years to avoid, going by the MOT

Well behind2007 to 2012−6.2 to −9.6 ptsMost common failures: position lamp (not working) in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011; track rod end (ball joint has excessive play) in 2012. 36,241 MOTs.
Behind2013 to 2014−3.3 to −4.3 ptsMost common failure in every one of these years: track rod end (ball joint has excessive play). 21,445 MOTs.
Level2015 to 2019+0.1 to −0.1 ptsMost common failures: pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn) in 2015 and 2016; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm in 2017, 2018 and 2019. 48,321 MOTs.
Behind2020 to 2021−2.1 to −2.9 ptsMost common failure in every one of these years: wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively). 9,472 MOTs.
Level2022−1.3 ptsMost common failure: wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively). 6,688 MOTs.

Well behind: 5 or more points below cars of the same age and mileage. Behind: 1.5 to 5 points below. Level: within 1.5 points. Ahead: 1.5 or more points above.

What fails

Kia Ceed common faults at the MOT

4.7% of Ceed MOTs failed on steering, against 2.0% for cars of the same age and mileage, and 9.2% on brakes, against 6.2%.

Most common failures

Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.3%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.2%
Position lamp: not working3.3%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.5%
Stop lamp: not working3.0%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.9%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.9%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.4%
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam2.5%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.5%
Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.5%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.0%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.5%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.9%
Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.4%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.3%
CeedSame age and mileage

Fails more often than other cars

Side repeaters: incorrect colour9.7×0.39% of Ceed MOTs (479) against 0.04% for cars of the same age and mileage
Steering rack: has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted)6.3×0.20% of Ceed MOTs (244) against 0.03% for cars of the same age and mileage
Stop lamp: all not working3.5×0.28% of Ceed MOTs (339) against 0.08% for cars of the same age and mileage
Hand lever: has insufficient reserve travel3.0×0.36% of Ceed MOTs (441) against 0.12% for cars of the same age and mileage
Suspension arm: corroded and seriously weakened2.8×0.33% of Ceed MOTs (404) against 0.12% for cars of the same age and mileage
Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.8×3.33% of Ceed MOTs (4,063) against 1.19% for cars of the same age and mileage
Mileage

The gap opens after 60,000 miles

Up to 60,000 miles, Ceeds pass as often as cars of the same age and mileage. Behind from there: 60–90,000 miles 2.2 points, 90–120,000 miles 4.4 points, 120,000+ miles 8.1 points.

First-time MOT pass rate by mileage: Kia Ceed against cars of the same age and mileage0%25%50%75%100%8789UNDER 30K−1.8 pts798030–60K−0.8 pts677060–90K−2.2 pts586390–120K−4.4 pts5260120K+−8.1 pts
Ceed, first-time pass rateCars of the same age and mileage

Petrol, diesel or hybrid Ceed

Diesels passed 64.5% first time, 3.8 points below comparable cars; petrols passed 72.2%, 2.4 points below comparable cars. Diesels had a median of 89,222 miles at the test, against 56,383 for petrols.

FuelMOTsPassed first timeSame age and mileageGap (pts)Median miles
Diesel68,24864.5%68.3%−3.889,222
Petrol51,60972.2%74.6%−2.456,383
Hybrid2,17781.6%85.0%−3.445,759
Against rivals

Ceed against other family hatchbacks

Cars registered 2014 to 2021, each against cars of the same age and mileage. The Ceed ranks 11 of 15.

ModelMOTsPassed first timeSame age and mileageGap (pts)
1. VW Golf453,67584.7%77.2%+7.5
2. Audi A3236,48583.4%76.3%+7.1
3. Skoda Octavia130,34981.5%75.7%+5.8
4. Toyota Corolla55,58089.2%84.2%+5.1
5. Toyota Auris78,82278.5%73.7%+4.8
6. Honda Civic96,39382.2%77.5%+4.8
7. BMW 1 Series216,35981.6%77.1%+4.5
8. Seat Leon133,33279.6%77.2%+2.3
9. Mercedes A-Class285,89780.7%79.2%+1.6
10. Ford Focus433,95477.1%76.9%+0.2
11. Kia Ceed68,63375.8%76.8%−1.0
12. Vauxhall Astra259,77073.6%75.2%−1.6
13. Hyundai i3054,10873.1%75.3%−2.2
14. Nissan Leaf42,10878.9%81.7%−2.7
15. Peugeot 30869,56371.2%75.2%−4.0

Check these before you buy a used Ceed

What testers most often noted as advisories on Ceeds in 2025: wear that passed but was close to failing. Figures in brackets are for cars of the same age and mileage.

Questions about Ceed reliability

Is the Kia Ceed reliable?

At the MOT, 68.1% of 122,168 Ceed MOTs in 2025 passed first time, against 71.3% for cars of the same age and mileage. 2007 to 2012: well behind (−6.2 to −9.6 points). 2013 to 2014: behind (−3.3 to −4.3 points). 2015 to 2019: level (+0.1 to −0.1 points). 2020 to 2021: behind (−2.1 to −2.9 points). 2022: level (−1.3 points).

Which Kia Ceed years should I avoid?

Going by 2025 MOT results, 2007 to 2012 and 2013 to 2014 and 2020 to 2021. Those cars passed first time −6.2 to −9.6 and −3.3 to −4.3 and −2.1 to −2.9 points against comparable cars.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Ceed?

Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play: 3.3% of Ceed MOTs, against 1.2% for cars of the same age and mileage.

Is a diesel or petrol Ceed more reliable?

Petrol Ceeds passed 72.2% first time and diesels 64.5%. Against cars of the same age and mileage, petrols were 2.4 points below and diesels 3.8 points below.

Is the Ceed more reliable than the VW Golf?

For cars registered 2014 to 2021, the VW Golf passed 84.7% first time, +7.5 points against comparable cars. The Ceed passed 75.8%, −1.0 points.

How we measure

Data. Every car MOT in Great Britain in 2025 (31,475,521 first tests on cars first used 2005 to 2022), from DVSA's anonymised MOT test data. Retests are left out.

Passed first time. A car passed if its first test that year ended in a pass. Cars that failed and were fixed within the hour count as fails, as DVSA counts them.

Same age and mileage. We group every car by the year it was first used and its mileage (under 30k, 30–60k, 60–90k, 90–120k, over 120k). The comparison figure is what those groups scored, weighted to match the Ceed's mix of ages and mileages.

Model. Every car DVSA records as a Kia Ceed: 43 recorded model names, from "CEED" to trims such as "CEED GT-LINE ISG".

The full method, including how each report-card dot and year group is decided.