Kia Carens Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Kia Carens car check
Is the Kia Carens reliable? We analysed 476,991 real MOT tests across 36,863 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Kia Carens? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Kia Carens is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and parking brake recording little or no effort. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Kia Carens.
Kia Carens Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Kia Carens. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Kia Carens MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Kia Carens to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Kia Carens Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Kia Carens fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Kia Carens Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Kia Carens owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Kia Carens MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Kia Carens year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 554 | 78.3% | 27,837 | 41,488 | 58,406 |
| 2018 | 10,939 | 80.8% | 26,532 | 40,380 | 57,540 |
| 2017 | 15,141 | 80.7% | 30,130 | 44,930 | 63,806 |
| 2016 | 16,384 | 79.5% | 33,242 | 49,747 | 71,050 |
| 2015 | 23,164 | 78.5% | 37,107 | 55,640 | 79,005 |
| 2014 | 27,325 | 77.3% | 40,009 | 59,902 | 83,721 |
| 2013 | 19,425 | 76.3% | 42,947 | 64,468 | 89,183 |
| 2012 | 1,970 | 71.7% | 38,614 | 62,340 | 91,504 |
| 2011 | 7,738 | 71.2% | 41,047 | 65,503 | 93,706 |
| 2010 | 8,622 | 72.2% | 40,782 | 64,295 | 93,372 |
| 2009 | 40,278 | 70.3% | 43,684 | 67,031 | 93,186 |
| 2008 | 55,116 | 69.1% | 43,376 | 66,742 | 92,602 |
| 2007 | 39,935 | 69.2% | 45,609 | 70,418 | 97,008 |
| 2006 | 45,409 | 66.5% | 41,297 | 62,920 | 87,242 |
| 2005 | 40,564 | 66.5% | 41,204 | 62,234 | 86,440 |
| 2004 | 45,253 | 66.8% | 41,961 | 62,611 | 85,580 |
| 2003 | 43,844 | 66.9% | 42,338 | 62,831 | 85,827 |
| 2002 | 9,883 | 66.4% | 44,555 | 62,492 | 83,310 |
| 2001 | 19,228 | 64.8% | 49,679 | 66,580 | 85,436 |
| 2000 | 5,400 | 62.7% | 51,351 | 67,025 | 84,405 |
How Long Does a Kia Carens Last?
Based on 36,863 Kia Carens vehicles on UK roads.
Kia Carens Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Kia Carens MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Kia Carens
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
80.8% MOT pass rate from 10,939 tests
62.7% MOT pass rate from 5,400 tests
The best year to buy a used Kia Carens is 2018, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 80.8% across 10,939 tests. The 2000 model year has the lowest pass rate at 62.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Kia Carens Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Carens THIS CAR | 70.3% | 476,991 | 62,175 mi | 26 yrs |
| Kia Sportage | 80.4% | 2,634,551 | 53,679 mi | 26 yrs |
| Kia Picanto | 77.1% | 2,626,043 | 39,084 mi | 22 yrs |
| Kia Ceed | 76.1% | 1,665,385 | 60,630 mi | 19 yrs |
| Hyundai Accent | 68.2% | 717,512 | 62,518 mi | 31 yrs |
Compared to the Kia Sportage (80.4% pass rate) and the Kia Picanto (77.1% pass rate), the Kia Carens trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Kia Carens you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Kia CarensShould you buy a used Kia Carens?
The Kia Carens has an overall MOT pass rate of 70.3% across 476,991 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Kia Carens are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (29,613 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (18,176), and parking brake recording little or no effort (12,318). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Kia Carens owner drives around 6,950 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Kia Carens models stay on UK roads for around 26 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.