2010 Kia Picanto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 88,629 MOT tests analysed for the 2010 Kia Picanto, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension. Its pass rate of 73.5% was below the average for city cars of a similar age (75.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 36.7% in the 150k+ group versus 16.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.2% | 9,886 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 9,663 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.8% | 8,685 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 6,423 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.4% | 5,653 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.2% | 5,492 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 4,303 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 3,910 |
| 3 | Joints | 3,904 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,846 |
| 5 | Wipers | 3,832 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 3,454 |
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 | 28.5% | 25,302 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.1% | 24,002 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.8% | 18,461 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 12,771 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.1% | 9,867 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.7% | 6,798 |
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 | 11,420 | 16.7% |
| 30-60k | 32,688 | 24.1% |
| 60-90k | 29,049 | 29.6% |
| 90-120k | 11,954 | 32.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,799 | 33.8% |
| 150k+ | 637 | 36.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 88,595 | 26.5% |
| Diesel | 34 | 32.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,754 | 25.3% |
| 2022 | 18,324 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 17,876 | 26.4% |
| 2024 | 17,309 | 27.6% |
| 2025 | 16,366 | 27.8% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Picanto
Before buying a 2010 Kia Picanto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 11.2% of tests for this year.
- Brakes (11.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2010 Kia Picantos pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 88,629 2010 Kia Picanto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Kia Picanto?
Brakes, recorded in 11.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.9%).
Does the 2010 Picanto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 0-30k band to 36.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 88,629 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.