2017 Kia Ceed — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 49,732 MOT tests analysed for the 2017 Kia Ceed, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 86.9% was below the average for small family cars of a similar age (88.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 20.8% in the 150k+ group versus 7.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 2,958 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 2,045 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.8% | 1,887 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.6% | 1,802 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.6% | 1,287 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 275 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 1,455 |
| 2 | Wipers | 1,439 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,229 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 1,139 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 952 |
| 6 | Washers | 796 |
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 | 25.6% | 12,743 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.4% | 9,657 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.6% | 3,784 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.4% | 3,659 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,637 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 949 |
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 | 8,975 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 23,687 | 12.3% |
| 60-90k | 12,001 | 15.9% |
| 90-120k | 3,571 | 19.0% |
| 120-150k | 955 | 19.7% |
| 150k+ | 542 | 20.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 38,691 | 13.6% |
| Petrol | 11,040 | 11.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,051 | 10.0% |
| 2022 | 9,858 | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 9,851 | 12.8% |
| 2024 | 9,974 | 15.1% |
| 2025 | 9,998 | 15.7% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Ceed
Before buying a 2017 Kia Ceed, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.9% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.9% 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 (4.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2017 Kia Ceeds pass their MOT?
86.9% of the 49,732 2017 Kia Ceed MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Kia Ceed?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.1%).
Does the 2017 Ceed get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 20.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 49,732 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.