Kia Soul MOT Failures
An analysis of 304,442 real DVSA MOT tests on the Kia Soul — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: PS (2009–2020).
Where the Kia Soul fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Kia Soul is light unit fault — this model is 14 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it worth watching for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 304,442 MOT tests, 0.51% of all Kia Soul tests recorded this as a failure.
Lighting faults are usually straightforward to fix (bulbs, connectors, earth points) but can indicate deeper wiring issues on older cars. Check all lights including fog lamps, number plate lights, and dashboard warning lights.
Other notable weak points include track rod ends worn (18x the fleet average), excessive wear or play in a universal joint or ... (28x the fleet average), excessive radial movement between the top of th... (16x the fleet average), and free play in the steering, measured at the rim ... (12x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Kia Soul'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 4 categories: Lights & Electrics, Steering, Brakes, Bodywork. If you're inspecting a Kia Soul 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 Soul'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 Soul specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are parking brake inefficient (160x the average) and headlight fault (38x). excessive wear or play in a universal joint or ... (28x) and coil springs broken (17x) 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 Soul specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are excessive radial movement between the top of th... (16x the average) and track rod ends worn (13x). excessive wear or play in a universal joint or ... (12x) and light unit fault (11x) 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 Soul specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ... (24x the average) and track rod ends worn (18x). light unit fault (13x) and excessive wear or play in a universal joint or ... (9.2x) also appear frequently.
The shift from parking brake inefficient at lower mileages to fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ... 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 Soul specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
DPF issues (PS) Major
The diesel particulate filter (DPF) on 1.6 CRDi engines blocks with soot when used primarily for short urban journeys. Affects PS; typical independent garage repair cost is £500–£1,200.
Premature ball joint failure (PS) Major
Front lower ball joints fail prematurely on the Soul, with MOT data showing failure rates 18.8x higher than the fleet average. Affects PS; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£350.
Universal joint deterioration (PS) Major
The CV joints and flexible couplings in the driveshaft system deteriorate at 14.3x the fleet average rate, particularly on petrol variants. Affects PS; typical independent garage repair cost is £250–£400.
Brake caliper binding (PS) Major
Brake calipers bind at 204.0x the fleet average rate, causing uneven braking force and brake drag. Affects PS; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£350.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Kia Soul common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Kia Soul
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Kia Soul:
Lights & Electrics — check for light unit fault, headlight fault. Steering — check for track rod ends worn, excessive wear or play in a universal joint or ..., excessive radial movement between the top of th..., free play in the steering, measured at the rim ....
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about dpf issues and premature ball joint failure. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £500. 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 Soul?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Kia Soul MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Kia Soul?
Based on 304,442 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is light unit fault — at 14x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include track rod ends worn and excessive wear or play in a universal joint or ....
Is the Kia Soul reliable based on MOT data?
The Kia Soul has 18 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag dpf issues 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 Soul most commonly fails on fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ... and track rod ends worn. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are parking brake inefficient and headlight fault.
How do I check a Kia Soul'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.