2017 Kia Rio — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 45,137 MOT tests analysed for the 2017 Kia Rio, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 89.1% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (86.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 14.0% in the 150k+ group versus 6.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.6% | 2,087 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.5% | 2,032 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 1,474 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.5% | 1,105 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 632 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 226 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,656 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,028 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 888 |
| 4 | Washers | 801 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 756 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 592 |
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 | 25.3% | 11,402 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.9% | 6,285 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.5% | 2,931 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 1,561 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.7% | 1,217 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 481 |
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 | 15,194 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 21,384 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 6,967 | 15.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,301 | 19.1% |
| 120-150k | 232 | 21.1% |
| 150k+ | 57 | 14.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 36,245 | 10.3% |
| Diesel | 8,892 | 13.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,848 | 8.2% |
| 2022 | 8,987 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 9,095 | 11.0% |
| 2024 | 9,090 | 12.4% |
| 2025 | 9,117 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Rio
Before buying a 2017 Kia Rio, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.6% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (4.6% 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 (4.5% 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 (3.3% 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 2017 Kia Rios pass their MOT?
89.1% of the 45,137 2017 Kia Rio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Kia Rio?
Tyres, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by visibility (4.5%).
Does the 2017 Rio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 14.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 45,137 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.