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Kia Venga Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Kia Venga car check

Is the Kia Venga reliable? We analysed 541,498 real MOT tests across 49,696 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 541,498 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.2%
Typical Mileage
39,954mi
Annual Mileage
4,639mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
16yrs

The Kia Venga is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Kia Venga.

Kia Venga Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Kia Venga. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Kia Venga MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Kia Venga to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

89.8%
2019
89.5%
2018
87.9%
2017
86.3%
2016
84.4%
2015
80.4%
2014
78.4%
2013
76.3%
2012
74.6%
2011
74.1%
2010
73.2%
2009

Kia Venga Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Kia Venga fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 4,040

Kia Venga Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Kia Venga models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 5,611

Kia Venga Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Kia Venga owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,659 mi/yr
Typical
4,639 mi/yr
Average
5,524 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,350 mi/yr

Kia Venga MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Kia Venga year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2019 13,031 89.8% 11,367 18,205 27,925
2018 22,179 89.5% 13,965 22,266 33,674
2017 44,278 87.9% 16,878 26,455 39,818
2016 48,446 86.3% 19,334 30,310 45,438
2015 61,677 84.4% 22,489 34,634 51,590
2014 63,396 80.4% 25,785 40,094 59,413
2013 75,718 78.4% 27,947 44,183 65,008
2012 76,066 76.3% 30,653 47,714 69,058
2011 74,987 74.6% 32,932 52,230 76,111
2010 58,534 74.1% 35,766 56,592 80,209
2009 512 73.2% 36,562 57,631 84,105

How Long Does a Kia Venga Last?

Based on 49,696 Kia Venga vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.1 years
Median
10.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
16 years

Kia Venga Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Kia Venga MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
39,954 mi
75th Percentile
61,885 mi
95th Percentile
101,541 mi
Max Recorded
973,236 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Kia Venga

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2019

89.8% MOT pass rate from 13,031 tests

Year to avoid
2009

73.2% MOT pass rate from 512 tests

The best year to buy a used Kia Venga is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.8% across 13,031 tests. The 2009 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Kia Venga Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Kia Venga THIS CAR 80.2% 541,498 39,954 mi 16 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
Chevrolet Spark 71.9% 273,626 47,852 mi 16 yrs

Compared to the Kia Sportage (80.4% pass rate) and the Kia Picanto (77.1% pass rate), the Kia Venga sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Kia Venga?

The Kia Venga has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.2% across 541,498 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 windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively with 4,040 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 Venga 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 Venga owner drives around 4,639 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 Venga models stay on UK roads for around 16 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.

Kia Venga — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Kia Venga reliable?
Based on 541,498 MOT tests, the Kia Venga has a 80.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Kia Venga?
The most common failure point is windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively.
How many miles does a Kia Venga do per year?
The typical Kia Venga does around 4,639 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Kia Venga last?
Most Kia Venga models stay on UK roads for around 16 years based on our analysis of 49,696 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Kia Venga?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Kia Venga?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Kia Venga is 2019 with a 89.8% pass rate across 13,031 tests.