Kia Mentor Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Kia Mentor car check
Is the Kia Mentor reliable? We analysed 35,933 real MOT tests across 5,356 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Kia Mentor? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Kia Mentor is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, constant velocity joint gaiter split and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Kia Mentor.
Kia Mentor Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Kia Mentor. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Kia Mentor MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Kia Mentor to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Kia Mentor Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Kia Mentor fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Kia Mentor Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Kia Mentor owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Kia Mentor MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Kia Mentor year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 50 | 68.0% | 30,379 | 51,033 | 83,052 |
| 2004 | 1,027 | 69.6% | 29,374 | 45,780 | 67,586 |
| 2003 | 62 | 69.4% | 23,830 | 34,805 | 64,207 |
| 2002 | 5,322 | 70.1% | 31,764 | 46,552 | 64,370 |
| 2001 | 2,385 | 68.6% | 35,478 | 50,048 | 66,370 |
| 2000 | 4,532 | 64.8% | 45,440 | 59,556 | 76,708 |
| 1999 | 2,324 | 63.9% | 46,702 | 60,229 | 75,420 |
| 1998 | 2,167 | 62.4% | 51,252 | 66,092 | 84,001 |
| 1997 | 8,959 | 61.4% | 53,812 | 69,898 | 87,811 |
| 1996 | 5,084 | 61.6% | 58,422 | 74,283 | 92,746 |
| 1995 | 2,678 | 61.0% | 61,324 | 76,634 | 95,437 |
| 1994 | 1,296 | 61.1% | 61,405 | 77,441 | 95,850 |
How Long Does a Kia Mentor Last?
Based on 5,356 Kia Mentor vehicles on UK roads.
Kia Mentor Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Kia Mentor 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 Mentor
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
70.1% MOT pass rate from 5,322 tests
61.0% MOT pass rate from 2,678 tests
The best year to buy a used Kia Mentor is 2002, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 70.1% across 5,322 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Kia Mentor Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Mentor THIS CAR | 64.1% | 35,933 | 64,260 mi | 32 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 |
| BMW 650 | 80.9% | 28,460 | 64,361 mi | 21 yrs |
Compared to the Kia Sportage (80.4% pass rate) and the Kia Picanto (77.1% pass rate), the Kia Mentor trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Kia Mentor 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 MentorShould you buy a used Kia Mentor?
The Kia Mentor has an overall MOT pass rate of 64.1% across 35,933 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.
The most common problems on the Kia Mentor are brake pipe excessively corroded (5,454 recorded failures), constant velocity joint gaiter split (2,711), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2,580). 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 Mentor owner drives around 4,732 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 Mentor models stay on UK roads for around 32 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.