Kia Clarus Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Kia Clarus car check
Is the Kia Clarus reliable? We analysed 7,791 real MOT tests across 1,111 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Kia Clarus? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Kia Clarus 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 Clarus.
Kia Clarus Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Kia Clarus. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Kia Clarus MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Kia Clarus to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Kia Clarus Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Kia Clarus fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Kia Clarus Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Kia Clarus owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Kia Clarus MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Kia Clarus year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 597 | 67.3% | 43,850 | 58,694 | 83,774 |
| 2000 | 3,978 | 65.5% | 44,990 | 60,613 | 78,880 |
| 1999 | 3,017 | 65.3% | 47,840 | 64,252 | 82,311 |
| 1998 | 149 | 61.7% | 56,140 | 69,868 | 82,867 |
How Long Does a Kia Clarus Last?
Based on 1,111 Kia Clarus vehicles on UK roads.
Kia Clarus Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Kia Clarus 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 Clarus
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
67.3% MOT pass rate from 597 tests
61.7% MOT pass rate from 149 tests
The best year to buy a used Kia Clarus is 2001, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 67.3% across 597 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Kia Clarus Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Clarus THIS CAR | 65.5% | 7,791 | 62,358 mi | 27 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 |
| Ford Ka Studio | 85.7% | 3,153 | 54,142 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Kia Sportage (80.4% pass rate) and the Kia Picanto (77.1% pass rate), the Kia Clarus trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Kia Clarus 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 ClarusShould you buy a used Kia Clarus?
The Kia Clarus has an overall MOT pass rate of 65.5% across 7,791 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Kia Clarus are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (845 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (639), and parking brake recording little or no effort (568). 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 Clarus owner drives around 5,312 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 Clarus models stay on UK roads for around 27 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.