Kia Unknown Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Kia Unknown car check
Is the Kia Unknown reliable? We analysed 423 real MOT tests across 123 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Kia Unknown? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Kia Unknown is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Kia Unknown.
Kia Unknown Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Kia Unknown. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Kia Unknown MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Kia Unknown to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Kia Unknown Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Kia Unknown fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Kia Unknown Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Kia Unknown models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Kia Unknown Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Kia Unknown owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Kia Unknown MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Kia Unknown year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 56 | 71.4% | 43,887 | 69,593 | 84,598 |
| 2013 | 52 | 80.8% | 57,872 | 94,279 | 118,418 |
Kia Unknown Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Kia Unknown 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 Unknown
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
80.8% MOT pass rate from 52 tests
71.4% MOT pass rate from 56 tests
The best year to buy a used Kia Unknown is 2013, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 80.8% across 52 tests. The 2015 model year has the lowest pass rate at 71.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Kia Unknown Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Unknown THIS CAR | 80.4% | 423 | 69,352 mi | 13 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 A 180 AMG Line Executive D | 87.4% | 413 | 43,169 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Kia Sportage (80.4% pass rate) and the Kia Picanto (77.1% pass rate), the Kia Unknown sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Kia Unknown 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 UnknownShould you buy a used Kia Unknown?
The Kia Unknown has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.4% across 423 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common failure point is headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside with 4 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.
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 Unknown 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 Unknown owner drives around 7,176 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 Unknown models stay on UK roads for around 13 years. 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.