2018 · 6 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2018 Kia Soul MOT pass rate and common faults

1,968 MOT tests in 2024. 85.8% passed first time, compared with 82.5% for all cars the same age.

104Above average
Passed first time85.8%
Failed or needed repairs14.2%
Typical mileage at test34,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,968 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.5%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.7%
    40 marked dangerous
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.4%
    40 marked dangerous
  4. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.1%
  5. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam1.1%
  6. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.0%
  7. Washers: not working0.6%
  8. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed0.5%
    10 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.4%
  2. Tyres4.3%
  3. Brakes4.0%
  4. Lights & electrics4.0%
  5. Suspension0.7%
  6. Emissions & leaks0.5%
  7. Steering0.5%
  8. Body & chassis0.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.0%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure9.3%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.8%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened5.9%
  5. Service brake performance: excessively binding2.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2018 Kia Soul?

In 2024, 85.8% of 2018 Kia Soul cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,968 tests. The average for all 6-year-old cars was 82.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2018 Kia Soul?

The most common failure reasons were wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively; brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors).

Is the 2018 Kia Soul reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 104, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).