Kia Cerato MOT Failures
An analysis of 26,549 real DVSA MOT tests on the Kia Cerato — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: LD (2004–2009), TD (2009–2013).
Where the Kia Cerato fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Kia Cerato is power steering fault — this model is 81 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a major concern for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 26,549 MOT tests, 4.75% of all Kia Cerato tests recorded this as a failure.
Steering faults include worn track rod ends, power steering leaks, and rack wear. These are safety-critical — any play in the steering should be investigated immediately.
Other notable weak points include anti-roll bar links worn (32x the fleet average), light unit fault (21x the fleet average), seat mounting fault (20x the fleet average), and subframe bushes or mounts worn (27x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Kia Cerato's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 6 categories: Steering, Suspension, Lights & Electrics, Seatbelts & Airbags, Bodywork and others. If you're inspecting a Kia Cerato before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Kia Cerato's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Kia Cerato specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are power steering fault (81x the average) and anti-roll bar links worn (32x). brake hoses perished or damaged (28x) and subframe bushes or mounts worn (27x) also appear frequently.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Kia Cerato specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are power steering fault (33x the average) and light unit fault (13x). seat mounting fault (12x) and parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the r... (12x) also appear frequently.
Over 100,000 miles
High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.
For the Kia Cerato specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are body panel damage (97x the average) and power steering fault (14x). light unit fault (9.8x) and anti-roll bar links worn (8.3x) also appear frequently.
The shift from power steering fault at lower mileages to body panel damage at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.
Known issues beyond the MOT
An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Kia Cerato specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Subframe mounting point corrosion (LD/TD) Dangerous
The load-bearing structure around subframe and suspension mounting points suffers from premature corrosion on this generation. Affects LD, TD; typical independent garage repair cost is £800–£2,000.
Brake pipe corrosion (LD/TD) Dangerous
Brake pipes and hoses suffer from accelerated corrosion, with MOT failure rates 13.7 times higher than the fleet average for pipe corrosion and 27.6 times higher for hose ferrule corrosion. Affects LD, TD; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£500.
Power steering system failure (LD/TD) Major
The hydraulic power steering system suffers from pump failure and fluid leaks at a rate 80.8 times higher than the national fleet average. Affects LD, TD; typical independent garage repair cost is £400–£800.
Suspension component corrosion (LD/TD) Major
Suspension components suffer from excessive corrosion damage at 21.9 times the national fleet average. Affects LD, TD; typical independent garage repair cost is £300–£700.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Kia Cerato common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Kia Cerato
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Kia Cerato:
Steering — check for power steering fault. Suspension — check for anti-roll bar links worn, subframe bushes or mounts worn, abs fault. Lights & Electrics — check for light unit fault. Seatbelts & Airbags — check for seat mounting fault.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about subframe mounting point corrosion and brake pipe corrosion. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £800. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Kia Cerato?
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Kia Cerato MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Kia Cerato?
Based on 26,549 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is power steering fault — at 81x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include anti-roll bar links worn and light unit fault.
Is the Kia Cerato reliable based on MOT data?
The Kia Cerato has 18 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag subframe mounting point corrosion as a concern. A pre-purchase inspection and service history check are recommended.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Kia Cerato most commonly fails on body panel damage and power steering fault. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are power steering fault and anti-roll bar links worn.
How do I check a Kia Cerato's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.