2020 Kia Stonic — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,662 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Kia Stonic, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, brakes and tyres. Its pass rate of 93.5% was above the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 12.9% in the 60-90k group versus 4.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.2% | 485 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.1% | 247 |
| 3 | Tyres | 1.8% | 214 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 182 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 60 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 500 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 269 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 136 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 115 |
| 5 | Washers | 78 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 43 |
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 | 13.6% | 1,581 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.9% | 1,507 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.3% | 731 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 331 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 115 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.9% | 104 |
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 | 8,109 | 4.8% |
| 30-60k | 3,317 | 10.4% |
| 60-90k | 225 | 12.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 11,457 | 6.4% |
| Diesel | 205 | 14.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 152 | 3.3% |
| 2023 | 3,842 | 4.7% |
| 2024 | 3,785 | 6.5% |
| 2025 | 3,879 | 8.6% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Stonic
Before buying a 2020 Kia Stonic, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 4.2% of tests for this year.
- Visibility (4.2% 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.
- Brakes (2.1% 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.
- Tyres (1.8% 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.
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 2020 Kia Stonics pass their MOT?
93.5% of the 11,662 2020 Kia Stonic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Kia Stonic?
Visibility, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by brakes (2.1%).
Does the 2020 Stonic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.8% in the 0-30k band to 12.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,662 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.