2018 Kia Optima MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 82.5% of Kia Optimas first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. Across 8,076 Optima first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were tyres, brakes and lamps and electrical equipment.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Kia Optimas first used in 2018 (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
82.5%
of 2,637 first tests; all cars first used in 2018: 80.9%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
8,076
first tests, 2023–2025; 2,637 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
46.3%
of 2,637 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
74,500
middle half: 57,000–96,500 miles; all cars first used in 2018: 52,000

How the 2018 Kia Optima MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Optimas first used in 2018 against all cars first used in 2018 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Optima figure was in line with the all-cars figure.

2018 OptimaAll cars first used in 2018
80%90%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2018, test year 2021: 87.6%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2022: 86.3%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2023: 84.2%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2024: 82.5%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2025: 80.9%2018 Optima, test year 2021: 86%2018 Optima, test year 2022: 83.1%2018 Optima, test year 2023: 83.4%2018 Optima, test year 2024: 83.2%2018 Optima, test year 2025: 82.5%82.5%80.9%
View this chart as a table
Test year2018 OptimaAll cars first used 2018Optima first tests
202186.0%87.6%2,805
202283.1%86.3%2,777
202383.4%84.2%2,736
202483.2%82.5%2,703
202582.5%80.9%2,637

Common 2018 Kia Optima MOT failures

Share of the 1,368 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%.

Tyres37.9%
Brakes35.0%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment18.3%
Visibility17.8%
Noise, emissions and leaks7.5%
Suspension2.4%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick22.5%308
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm14.5%199
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively10.4%142
Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed9.1%125
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords8.8%120

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

What to check on a 2018 Kia Optima before buying

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

  1. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  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. 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 2018 Kia Optima MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2018 Optimas, as a share of all 8,076 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge19.0%1,536
Brake pads: wearing thin14.1%1,142
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened7.8%630
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing6.0%483
Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt3.4%275

Questions about the 2018 Kia Optima MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2018 Kia Optima?

In 2025, 82.5% of Optimas first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2018 Optima most often fail its MOT on?

Tyres (in 37.9% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), brakes (35.0%) and lamps and electrical equipment (18.3%). The single most common item was “Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick” (22.5%).

How often does a 2018 Kia Optima fail its MOT?

In 2025, 17.5% of first tests on Optimas first used in 2018 did not pass first time: 14.5% failed, and a further 3.0% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 1,368 of 8,076 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2018 Kia Optima MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 19.0% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (14.1%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (7.8%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (6.0%) and “Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt” (3.4%).

Is a 2018 Kia Optima 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 86.0% in 2021 to 82.5% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2018

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

2018 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2018 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2018 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2018 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2018 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics

How the 2018 Kia Optima 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. “2018 Optima” means a Kia Optima whose date of first use falls in 2018 (67, 18 and 68 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 2018, 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.