2017 Kia Carens MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 71.8% of Kia Carens cars first used in 2017 passed their MOT first time, against 78.2% for all cars first used in 2017. Across 5,571 Carens first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were brakes, tyres and lamps and electrical equipment.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Kia Carens cars first used in 2017 (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
71.8%
of 1,855 first tests; all cars first used in 2017: 78.2%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
5,571
first tests, 2023–2025; 1,855 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
38.2%
of 1,855 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
66,000
middle half: 52,500–84,500 miles; all cars first used in 2017: 60,000

How the 2017 Kia Carens MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Carens cars first used in 2017 against all cars first used in 2017 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Carens figure was 6.4 points lower.

2017 CarensAll cars first used in 2017
70%80%90%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2017, test year 2021: 85.9%All cars first used in 2017, test year 2022: 83.9%All cars first used in 2017, test year 2023: 81.7%All cars first used in 2017, test year 2024: 79.8%All cars first used in 2017, test year 2025: 78.2%2017 Carens, test year 2021: 79.6%2017 Carens, test year 2022: 78.8%2017 Carens, test year 2023: 74.4%2017 Carens, test year 2024: 72.1%2017 Carens, test year 2025: 71.8%78.2%71.8%
View this chart as a table
Test year2017 CarensAll cars first used 2017Carens first tests
202179.6%85.9%1,865
202278.8%83.9%1,855
202374.4%81.7%1,846
202472.1%79.8%1,870
202571.8%78.2%1,855

Common 2017 Kia Carens MOT failures

Share of the 1,518 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%.

Brakes36.3%
Tyres29.3%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment27.2%
Visibility15.3%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems12.3%
Suspension10.9%
Noise, emissions and leaks7.8%
Body, chassis, structure2.0%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick17.9%271
SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault11.1%168
Stop lamp: not working10.2%155
Parking brake efficiency (sp): efficiency below requirements9.4%143
Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed7.8%119

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

What to check on a 2017 Kia Carens before buying

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

  1. 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.
  2. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  3. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.

Common 2017 Kia Carens MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2017 Carens cars, as a share of all 5,571 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge17.4%967
Brake pads: wearing thin14.3%799
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened10.9%609
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing9.3%516
Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt5.7%319

Questions about the 2017 Kia Carens MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2017 Kia Carens?

In 2025, 71.8% of Carens cars first used in 2017 passed their MOT first time, against 78.2% for all cars first used in 2017. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2017 Carens most often fail its MOT on?

Brakes (in 36.3% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), tyres (29.3%) and lamps and electrical equipment (27.2%). The single most common item was “Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick” (17.9%).

How often does a 2017 Kia Carens fail its MOT?

In 2025, 28.2% of first tests on Carens cars first used in 2017 did not pass first time: 22.9% failed, and a further 5.3% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 1,518 of 5,571 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2017 Kia Carens MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 17.4% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (14.3%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (10.9%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (9.3%) and “Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt” (5.7%).

Is a 2017 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 79.6% in 2021 to 71.8% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2017

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

2017 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2017 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2017 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2017 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics · 2017 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics

How the 2017 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. “2017 Carens” means a Kia Carens whose date of first use falls in 2017 (66, 17 and 67 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 2017, 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. 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.