2021 Kia Niro 2 Phev S-A — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,452 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Kia Niro 2 Phev S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 95.2% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 9.4% in the 120-150k group versus 2.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.9% | 71 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.9% | 71 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 51 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.8% | 20 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 9 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.1% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 67 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 36 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 36 |
| 4 | Washers | 20 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 12 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 8 |
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 | 15.8% | 387 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.3% | 129 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.0% | 97 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 71 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 12 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 9 |
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 | 609 | 2.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,225 | 6.4% |
| 60-90k | 476 | 3.8% |
| 90-120k | 110 | 2.7% |
| 120-150k | 32 | 9.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| HYBRID ELECTRIC (CLEAN) | 2,320 | 5.1% |
| Hybrid | 132 | 0.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 119 | 0.0% |
| 2024 | 1,087 | 5.6% |
| 2025 | 1,233 | 4.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Niro 2 Phev S-A
Before buying a 2021 Kia Niro 2 Phev S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 2.9% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (2.9% 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.
- Visibility (2.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2021 Kia Niro 2 Phev S-As pass their MOT?
95.2% of the 2,452 2021 Kia Niro 2 Phev S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Kia Niro 2 Phev S-A?
Tyres, recorded in 2.9% of tests, followed by visibility (2.9%).
Does the 2021 Niro 2 Phev S-A get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.8% in the 0-30k band to 9.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,452 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.