Kia Picanto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Kia Picanto car check
Is the Kia Picanto reliable? We analysed 2,626,043 real MOT tests across 229,767 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Kia Picanto? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Kia Picanto is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Kia Picanto.
Kia Picanto Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Kia Picanto. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Kia Picanto MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Kia Picanto to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Kia Picanto Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Kia Picanto fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Kia Picanto Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Kia Picanto models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Kia Picanto Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Kia Picanto owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Kia Picanto MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Kia Picanto year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3,549 | 90.9% | 8,576 | 13,782 | 20,707 |
| 2022 | 10,455 | 88.9% | 10,820 | 17,302 | 25,926 |
| 2021 | 21,538 | 88.8% | 10,777 | 17,400 | 26,300 |
| 2020 | 29,412 | 89.1% | 11,694 | 18,964 | 28,744 |
| 2019 | 81,525 | 87.4% | 12,512 | 20,538 | 31,682 |
| 2018 | 98,937 | 87.8% | 14,518 | 23,396 | 35,786 |
| 2017 | 100,523 | 86.4% | 16,052 | 26,028 | 39,886 |
| 2016 | 110,147 | 83.5% | 17,708 | 28,485 | 43,231 |
| 2015 | 135,796 | 83.5% | 19,380 | 31,419 | 47,950 |
| 2014 | 166,233 | 81.8% | 21,729 | 35,216 | 53,095 |
| 2013 | 169,826 | 78.8% | 23,925 | 38,919 | 58,204 |
| 2012 | 199,749 | 76.3% | 26,766 | 43,070 | 63,632 |
| 2011 | 183,598 | 74.8% | 26,642 | 43,762 | 65,102 |
| 2010 | 259,168 | 74.5% | 24,971 | 42,569 | 65,097 |
| 2009 | 281,386 | 73.6% | 24,068 | 41,564 | 64,014 |
| 2008 | 85,376 | 73.5% | 28,394 | 47,101 | 70,145 |
| 2007 | 103,427 | 72.9% | 29,308 | 47,694 | 69,376 |
| 2006 | 205,435 | 71.2% | 31,163 | 50,039 | 71,631 |
| 2005 | 218,727 | 71.7% | 31,792 | 51,318 | 74,198 |
| 2004 | 151,078 | 71.9% | 33,117 | 52,948 | 76,225 |
How Long Does a Kia Picanto Last?
Based on 229,767 Kia Picanto vehicles on UK roads.
Kia Picanto Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Kia Picanto 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 Picanto
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
90.9% MOT pass rate from 3,549 tests
71.2% MOT pass rate from 205,435 tests
The best year to buy a used Kia Picanto is 2023, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.9% across 3,549 tests. The 2006 model year has the lowest pass rate at 71.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Kia Picanto Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Picanto THIS CAR | 77.1% | 2,626,043 | 39,084 mi | 22 yrs |
| Kia Sportage | 80.4% | 2,634,551 | 53,679 mi | 26 yrs |
| Kia Ceed | 76.1% | 1,665,385 | 60,630 mi | 19 yrs |
| Kia Rio | 76.2% | 1,637,344 | 49,830 mi | 25 yrs |
| Toyota Celica | 71.3% | 870,417 | 95,660 mi | 36 yrs |
Compared to the Kia Sportage (80.4% pass rate) and the Kia Ceed (76.1% pass rate), the Kia Picanto sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Kia Picanto 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 PicantoShould you buy a used Kia Picanto?
The Kia Picanto has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.1% across 2,626,043 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Kia Picanto are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (41,453 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (28,710), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (25,450). 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.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Kia Picanto with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Kia Picanto owner drives around 3,997 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 Picanto 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.