2014 Kia Carens MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 64.4% of Kia Carens cars first used in 2014 passed their MOT first time, against 68.6% for all cars first used in 2014. Across 6,504 Carens first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, brakes and suspension.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Kia Carens cars first used in 2014 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
64.4%
of 2,090 first tests; all cars first used in 2014: 68.6%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
6,504
first tests, 2023–2025; 2,090 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
26.0%
of 2,090 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
89,000
middle half: 70,500–109,000 miles; all cars first used in 2014: 80,500

How the 2014 Kia Carens MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Carens cars first used in 2014 against all cars first used in 2014 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Carens figure was 4.2 points lower.

2014 CarensAll cars first used in 2014
60%70%80%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2014, test year 2021: 76.3%All cars first used in 2014, test year 2022: 74.1%All cars first used in 2014, test year 2023: 71.7%All cars first used in 2014, test year 2024: 69.9%All cars first used in 2014, test year 2025: 68.6%2014 Carens, test year 2021: 73.8%2014 Carens, test year 2022: 69.1%2014 Carens, test year 2023: 67.2%2014 Carens, test year 2024: 64.7%2014 Carens, test year 2025: 64.4%68.6%64.4%
View this chart as a table
Test year2014 CarensAll cars first used 2014Carens first tests
202173.8%76.3%2,276
202269.1%74.1%2,255
202367.2%71.7%2,246
202464.7%69.9%2,168
202564.4%68.6%2,090

Common 2014 Kia Carens MOT failures

Share of the 2,245 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment40.5%
Brakes33.7%
Suspension28.2%
Tyres24.3%
Visibility12.8%
Noise, emissions and leaks5.8%
Body, chassis, structure5.3%
Steering3.4%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Stop lamp: not working18.8%422
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick15.0%336
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak11.0%248
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam9.7%217
Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed7.1%159

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

Typical repair costs for common MOT failures

Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a Carens in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leakShock absorber replacement£300£200–£500

From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.

What to check on a 2014 Kia Carens before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.
  3. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.

Common 2014 Kia Carens MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2014 Carens cars, as a share of all 6,504 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge20.5%1,332
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened16.4%1,067
Brake pads: wearing thin13.7%888
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing8.5%553
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement5.3%344

Questions about the 2014 Kia Carens MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2014 Kia Carens?

In 2025, 64.4% of Carens cars first used in 2014 passed their MOT first time, against 68.6% for all cars first used in 2014. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2014 Carens most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 40.5% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), brakes (33.7%) and suspension (28.2%). The single most common item was “Stop lamp: not working” (18.8%).

How often does a 2014 Kia Carens fail its MOT?

In 2025, 35.6% of first tests on Carens cars first used in 2014 did not pass first time: 28.7% failed, and a further 6.9% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 2,245 of 6,504 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2014 Kia Carens MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 20.5% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (16.4%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (13.7%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (8.5%) and “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (5.3%).

Is a 2014 Kia Carens reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 73.8% in 2021 to 64.4% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2014

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2014 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2014 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2014 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2014 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2014 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics

How the 2014 Kia Carens MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2014 Carens” means a Kia Carens whose date of first use falls in 2014 (63, 14 and 64 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2014, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Repair prices are typical UK prices for the job from published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026 — not for this model, and not a quote. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.