Kia Cerato Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Kia Cerato car check
Is the Kia Cerato reliable? We analysed 91,093 real MOT tests across 5,957 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Kia Cerato? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Kia Cerato 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 registration plate lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Kia Cerato.
Kia Cerato Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Kia Cerato. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Kia Cerato MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Kia Cerato to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Kia Cerato Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Kia Cerato fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Kia Cerato Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Kia Cerato owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Kia Cerato MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Kia Cerato year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 3,381 | 72.3% | 34,140 | 56,718 | 81,200 |
| 2006 | 30,597 | 72.4% | 37,432 | 57,955 | 82,415 |
| 2005 | 43,368 | 70.4% | 37,113 | 58,173 | 83,288 |
| 2004 | 13,561 | 69.6% | 36,419 | 57,261 | 81,120 |
How Long Does a Kia Cerato Last?
Based on 5,957 Kia Cerato vehicles on UK roads.
Kia Cerato Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Kia Cerato 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 Cerato
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
72.4% MOT pass rate from 30,597 tests
69.6% MOT pass rate from 13,561 tests
The best year to buy a used Kia Cerato is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 72.4% across 30,597 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 69.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Kia Cerato Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Cerato THIS CAR | 71.0% | 91,093 | 57,933 mi | 22 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 |
| Mercedes-benz R-class | 78.4% | 63,579 | 84,244 mi | 20 yrs |
Compared to the Kia Sportage (80.4% pass rate) and the Kia Picanto (77.1% pass rate), the Kia Cerato trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Kia Cerato 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 CeratoShould you buy a used Kia Cerato?
The Kia Cerato has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.0% across 91,093 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Kia Cerato are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (4,654 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (3,130), and registration plate lamp not working (2,601). 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 Cerato owner drives around 5,947 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 Cerato models stay on UK roads for around 22 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.