2020 Kia Niro MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 86.9% of Kia Niros first used in 2020 passed their MOT first time, against 86.0% for all cars first used in 2020. Across 59,868 Niro first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were tyres, visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) and lamps and electrical equipment.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Kia Niros first used in 2020 (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
How the 2020 Kia Niro MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, Niros first used in 2020 against all cars first used in 2020 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Niro figure was in line with the all-cars figure.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2020 Niro | All cars first used 2020 | Niro first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 95.4% | 84.7% | 810 |
| 2022 | 92.9% | 90.2% | 1,809 |
| 2023 | 89.4% | 87.7% | 19,412 |
| 2024 | 88.2% | 86.9% | 20,123 |
| 2025 | 86.9% | 86.0% | 20,333 |
Common 2020 Kia Niro MOT failures
Share of the 7,100 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%.
Most common failure items
| DVSA failure item | Share of failed first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | 23.5% | 1,670 |
| Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed | 17.9% | 1,270 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | 15.6% | 1,106 |
| Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm | 12.6% | 898 |
| Headlamp aim: too low | 5.4% | 386 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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What to check on a 2020 Kia Niro before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
- Wipers and windscreen. Worth checking that the wipers clear the screen cleanly, that the washers work, and that there are no chips or cracks in the driver’s view.
- 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 2020 Kia Niro MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2020 Niros, as a share of all 59,868 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 14.0% | 8,369 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | 7.5% | 4,479 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 4.5% | 2,670 |
| Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt | 2.5% | 1,468 |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 2.2% | 1,307 |
Questions about the 2020 Kia Niro MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2020 Kia Niro?
In 2025, 86.9% of Niros first used in 2020 passed their MOT first time, against 86.0% for all cars first used in 2020. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2020 Niro most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres (in 49.7% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (28.2%) and lamps and electrical equipment (19.5%). The single most common item was “Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively” (23.5%).
How often does a 2020 Kia Niro fail its MOT?
In 2025, 13.1% of first tests on Niros first used in 2020 did not pass first time: 9.8% failed, and a further 3.3% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 7,100 of 59,868 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2020 Kia Niro MOT advisories?
“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 14.0% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (7.5%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (4.5%), “Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt” (2.5%) and “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (2.2%).
Is a 2020 Kia Niro 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 95.4% in 2021 to 86.9% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2020
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2020 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2020 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2020 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2020 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2020 MINI Hatch MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2020 Niro?
The numbers above cover every Niro first used in 2020 and tested in Great Britain. Our free check shows the actual MOT history, mileage record and tax status of the one you are looking at.
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