2016 Kia Ceed — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 56,886 MOT tests analysed for the 2016 Kia Ceed, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 85.0% was below the average for small family cars of a similar age (86.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 22.8% in the 150k+ group versus 10.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.0% | 3,439 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.7% | 3,213 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.3% | 2,443 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.8% | 2,159 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 2,090 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 395 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 2,048 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,656 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,584 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,358 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,296 |
| 6 | Washers | 888 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.1% | 14,837 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.6% | 11,721 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.6% | 5,438 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.1% | 4,605 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,891 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 1,540 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 6,551 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 24,642 | 13.1% |
| 60-90k | 17,425 | 16.9% |
| 90-120k | 5,956 | 19.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,604 | 21.3% |
| 150k+ | 705 | 22.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 41,636 | 15.6% |
| Petrol | 15,250 | 13.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,274 | 12.3% |
| 2022 | 11,361 | 13.6% |
| 2023 | 11,425 | 15.0% |
| 2024 | 11,383 | 16.3% |
| 2025 | 11,443 | 17.5% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Ceed
Before buying a 2016 Kia Ceed, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.0% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (6.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (5.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2016 Kia Ceeds pass their MOT?
85.0% of the 56,886 2016 Kia Ceed MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Kia Ceed?
Tyres, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.7%).
Does the 2016 Ceed get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 22.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 56,886 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.