2021 Kia Soul First Ev — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,284 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Kia Soul First Ev, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 92.3% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.5% | 126 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.5% | 56 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 29 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.6% | 14 |
| 5 | Steering | 0.4% | 9 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 57 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 36 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 29 |
| 4 | Steering rack | 9 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 7 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 6 |
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 | 26.2% | 598 |
| 2 | Other defects | 5.0% | 113 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.0% | 113 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 77 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 15 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 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 | 1,340 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 847 | 9.9% |
| 60-90k | 73 | 11.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 42 | 4.8% |
| 2024 | 1,110 | 7.3% |
| 2025 | 1,126 | 8.2% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Soul First Ev
Before buying a 2021 Kia Soul First Ev, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.5% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.5% 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 (2.5% 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 (1.3% 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 2021 Kia Soul First Evs pass their MOT?
92.3% of the 2,284 2021 Kia Soul First Ev MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Kia Soul First Ev?
Tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by visibility (2.5%).
Does the 2021 Soul First Ev get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.0% in the 0-30k band to 11.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,284 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.