2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 Kia Optima MOT pass rate and common faults

631 MOT tests in 2024. 58.0% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

90Well below average
Passed first time58.0%
Failed or needed repairs42.0%
Typical mileage at test97,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 631 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Service brake performance: excessively binding7.1%
  2. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play6.7%
  3. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements4.8%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.6%
  5. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn4.1%
  6. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick4.0%
    31 marked dangerous
  7. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side3.2%
  8. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.9%
  9. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.9%
    33 marked dangerous
  10. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps2.7%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Brakes33.0%
  2. Suspension18.2%
  3. Lights & electrics13.9%
  4. Steering11.3%
  5. Tyres8.4%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.2%
  7. Emissions & leaks1.9%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.0%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded11.7%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.6%
  4. Service brake performance: excessively binding8.6%
  5. Suspension arm: corroded and seriously weakened7.9%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: service brake performance: excessively binding. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All Optima years2013 Optima →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Kia Optima?

In 2024, 58.0% of 2012 Kia Optima cars passed their MOT first time, across 631 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Kia Optima?

The most common failure reasons were service brake performance: excessively binding; track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2012 Kia Optima reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 90, which is well below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).