2021 Kia Xceed 3 Phev S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 1,187 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Kia Xceed 3 Phev S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 91.5% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 14.8% in the 90-120k group versus 4.3% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

1,187

MOT tests analysed

8.5%

Fail rate

in line with

vs cars of similar age

3.5

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2021 Kia Xceed 3 Phev S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Visibility	4.6%	55
2	Tyres	4.5%	54
3	Lighting & signalling	2.1%	25
4	Brakes	0.8%	10
5	Suspension	0.8%	9
6	Body, structure & corrosion	0.5%	6

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2021 Kia Xceed 3 Phev S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Wipers	67
2	Headlamp aim	19
3	Tread depth	18
4	Pins and bushes	12
5	Side repeaters	5
6	Washers	5

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2021 Kia Xceed 3 Phev S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	24.7%	293
2	Suspension	8.6%	102
3	Brakes	5.8%	69
4	Other defects	5.4%	64
5	Visibility	3.0%	36
6	Emissions & environmental	0.7%	8

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2021 Xceed 3 Phev S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	414	4.3%
30-60k	512	10.3%
60-90k	196	10.2%
90-120k	61	14.8%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2021 Xceed 3 Phev S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2024	573	8.9%
2025	596	8.2%

What to check before buying a 2021 Xceed 3 Phev S-A

Before buying a 2021 Kia Xceed 3 Phev S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 4.6% of tests for this year.

Visibility (4.6% 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.
Tyres (4.5% 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.
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 Xceed 3 Phev S-As pass their MOT?

91.5% of the 1,187 2021 Kia Xceed 3 Phev S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.5% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Kia Xceed 3 Phev S-A?

Visibility, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by tyres (4.5%).

Does the 2021 Xceed 3 Phev S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.3% in the 0-30k band to 14.8% in the 90-120k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 1,187 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.