Kia Rio MOT pass rates & common failures

Every completed first-attempt MOT on a Kia Rio in Great Britain in 2025 — 99,483 tests. Figures cover every Rio first-tested in 2025, all trims grouped. How the Rio ages, what it fails on, and what mileage is normal, computed directly from the official DVSA record of every test.

Pass rate 2025
70.3%
2.0 points below the class-4 average (72.3%); unadjusted for age — the age-matched comparison is below
Tests analysed
99,483
first tests, 2025
Arrived with a dangerous fault
8.0%
of Rio first tests; national 7.3%
Typical mileage at 10 years
61,250
middle half: 46,250–81,250 miles (2,500-mile-band midpoints)

How many Kia Rio cars are still on the road?

At the end of 2025, DVLA's register held 103,031 Kia Rio cars that were taxed or on SORN: 98,736 taxed and 4,295 on SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification — kept, but declared off the road by the keeper). The MOT figures above count tests; these count cars, across the whole United Kingdom, cars only. Kia Rio vans, where they exist, are counted by DVLA as goods vehicles and are not in these figures.

Still taxed, end of 2025
98,736
95.8% of the 103,031 Rio cars taxed or on SORN; 86 model variants grouped
On SORN, end of 2025
4,295
declared off the road by their keepers — 4.2% of that total

How the numbers are moving

The number of taxed Rio cars peaked at 107,268 at the end of 2022 and has since fallen by 8,532 (8.0%) to 98,736 at the end of 2025. Cars on SORN went from 1,020 at the end of 2014 to 4,295 at the end of 2025, up 321.1%. A car leaves the taxed count when it is scrapped, exported or declared off the road; the year-end counts do not say which.

Taxed Rio cars, year by year

Cars of this model taxed and on the road at the end of each year, 2014–2025.

050k100k150k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)Taxed Rio cars, year 2014: 82kTaxed Rio cars, year 2015: 90kTaxed Rio cars, year 2016: 97kTaxed Rio cars, year 2017: 101kTaxed Rio cars, year 2018: 104kTaxed Rio cars, year 2019: 105kTaxed Rio cars, year 2020: 105kTaxed Rio cars, year 2021: 106kTaxed Rio cars, year 2022: 107kTaxed Rio cars, year 2023: 107kTaxed Rio cars, year 2024: 103kTaxed Rio cars, year 2025: 99k99k
View this chart as a table
YearTaxed Rio cars
201482,425
201590,396
201696,929
2017101,373
2018103,691
2019105,462
2020105,196
2021106,112
2022107,268
2023106,895
2024103,013
202598,736

Rio cars on SORN, year by year

Cars of this model declared off the road at the end of each year, 2014–2025. Its own scale — SORN counts are a fraction of the taxed count.

01k2k3k4k5k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)Rio cars on SORN, year 2014: 1kRio cars on SORN, year 2015: 2kRio cars on SORN, year 2016: 2kRio cars on SORN, year 2017: 2kRio cars on SORN, year 2018: 2kRio cars on SORN, year 2019: 2kRio cars on SORN, year 2020: 3kRio cars on SORN, year 2021: 3kRio cars on SORN, year 2022: 3kRio cars on SORN, year 2023: 3kRio cars on SORN, year 2024: 4kRio cars on SORN, year 2025: 4k4k
View this chart as a table
YearRio cars on SORN
20141,020
20151,557
20161,793
20172,118
20182,044
20192,388
20202,881
20213,005
20223,253
20233,441
20243,894
20254,295

Which model years survive

Taxed Rio cars at the end of 2025 by year of manufacture, and each year's share of the 98,736 taxed in all. Every build year holding at least 1% has its own row; the rest share one. A build year's count depends on how many were sold that year as well as how many have lasted.

Year of manufacture Taxed, end of 2025Share of taxed Rio cars
20232,6312.7%
20224,4344.5%
20213,6413.7%
20203,3353.4%
20194,8294.9%
20185,6565.7%
20177,9218.0%
20168,6938.8%
201511,08811.2%
201410,60810.7%
20139,2789.4%
20128,1398.2%
20115,9676.0%
20105,1415.2%
20093,8573.9%
20081,4821.5%
All other build years (eight years, each under 1%)2,0362.1%

Population source: Department for Transport / DVLA vehicle licensing statistics, table VEH0124, updated 15 July 2026; counts of the cars on DVLA's register that were taxed or on SORN at the end of each year shown, United Kingdom, cars only, excluding cars recorded with no model name. SortedCars groups DVLA's model name RIO under this model. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. SortedCars is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, DVLA or the Department for Transport.

How the Rio ages

First-time pass rate by vehicle age, Rio vs all cars, 2025.

Kia RioAll cars
50%60%70%80%90%100%3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)Kia Rio, vehicle age 3: 91.1%Kia Rio, vehicle age 4: 86.6%Kia Rio, vehicle age 5: 85.4%Kia Rio, vehicle age 6: 84%Kia Rio, vehicle age 7: 84.7%Kia Rio, vehicle age 8: 81.3%Kia Rio, vehicle age 9: 76.4%Kia Rio, vehicle age 10: 74.3%Kia Rio, vehicle age 11: 65.8%Kia Rio, vehicle age 12: 61.5%Kia Rio, vehicle age 13: 59.6%Kia Rio, vehicle age 14: 54.8%Kia Rio, vehicle age 15: 55%Kia Rio, vehicle age 16: 54.2%Kia Rio, vehicle age 17: 51.5%Kia Rio, vehicle age 18: 54.4%Kia Rio, vehicle age 19: 51.2%All cars, vehicle age 3: 88.5%All cars, vehicle age 4: 87.2%All cars, vehicle age 5: 86%All cars, vehicle age 6: 83.5%All cars, vehicle age 7: 80.9%All cars, vehicle age 8: 78.2%All cars, vehicle age 9: 74.9%All cars, vehicle age 10: 71.9%All cars, vehicle age 11: 68.6%All cars, vehicle age 12: 65.8%All cars, vehicle age 13: 63.5%All cars, vehicle age 14: 61.2%All cars, vehicle age 15: 59.3%All cars, vehicle age 16: 58.3%All cars, vehicle age 17: 57.2%All cars, vehicle age 18: 57.4%All cars, vehicle age 19: 57%All cars, vehicle age 20: 57.6%All cars 57.6%Kia Rio 51.2%
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Rio testsRio pass rateAll cars
34,65791.1%88.5%
43,65686.6%87.2%
53,38485.4%86.0%
64,84384.0%83.5%
75,72584.7%80.9%
88,01481.3%78.2%
98,79576.4%74.9%
1011,31474.3%71.9%
1110,77965.8%68.6%
129,56861.5%65.8%
138,56459.6%63.5%
146,36154.8%61.2%
155,41455.0%59.3%
164,15954.2%58.3%
171,65451.5%57.2%
1892554.4%57.4%
1972351.2%57.0%

Better or worse than the average car?

The Rio's pass rate minus the all-cars pass rate at each age, in percentage points. Bars above zero: the Rio beats the average car of that age. Below zero: it trails.

Rio aheadRio behind
-8-4+0+4+8Age 3: +2.6 points vs the average car3Age 4: -0.6 points vs the average carAge 5: -0.6 points vs the average car5Age 6: +0.5 points vs the average carAge 7: +3.8 points vs the average car7Age 8: +3.1 points vs the average carAge 9: +1.5 points vs the average car9Age 10: +2.4 points vs the average carAge 11: -2.8 points vs the average car11Age 12: -4.3 points vs the average carAge 13: -3.9 points vs the average car13Age 14: -6.4 points vs the average carAge 15: -4.3 points vs the average car15Age 16: -4.1 points vs the average carAge 17: -5.7 points vs the average car17Age 18: -3.0 points vs the average carAge 19: -5.8 points vs the average car19Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Gap (points)
3+2.6
4-0.6
5-0.6
6+0.5
7+3.8
8+3.1
9+1.5
10+2.4
11-2.8
12-4.3
13-3.9
14-6.4
15-4.3
16-4.1
17-5.7
18-3.0
19-5.8

The Rio fleet on the road, by age

How many took a first MOT in 2025 at each age — the shape of the Rio fleet still in use.

05k10k15k20kAge 3: 4k3Age 4: 3kAge 5: 3k5Age 6: 4kAge 7: 5k7Age 8: 8kAge 9: 8k9Age 10: 11kAge 11: 10k11Age 12: 9kAge 13: 8k13Age 14: 6kAge 15: 5k15Age 16: 4kAge 17: 1k17Age 18: 925Age 19: 72319Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)First tests
34,657
43,656
53,384
64,843
75,725
88,014
98,795
1011,314
1110,779
129,568
138,564
146,361
155,414
164,159
171,654
18925
19723

What a Rio fails on

Where the failure items land when a Rio fails or needs a fix at test, 2025. Use it as a pre-purchase checklist: these are the areas to look at first.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment23.7%
Brakes19.1%
Suspension16.6%
Tyres12.9%
Visibility10.4%
Steering6.9%
Noise, emissions and leaks4.4%
Body, chassis, structure3.2%

Share of all failure items, 2025 — the 8 biggest categories shown (97.3% of the items); smaller categories are not listed.

The advisories to watch

Where testers most often write "keep an eye on this" for a Rio, 2025 — the faults in the post.

Tyres: 31.2% of advisories31.2%Brakes: 29.1% of advisories29.1%Suspension: 20.6% of advisories20.6%Non-component advisories: 5.0% of advisoriesBody, chassis, structure: 3.1% of advisoriesSteering: 3.1% of advisories
TyresBrakesSuspensionNon-component advisoriesBody, chassis, structureSteering
View this chart as a table
CategoryShare of advisories
Tyres31.2%
Brakes29.1%
Suspension20.6%
Non-component advisories5.0%
Body, chassis, structure3.1%
Steering3.1%

Petrol, diesel or hybrid Rio?

First-time pass rate for the three most-tested Rio fuel types, 2025, against the all-cars average. Fleet ages differ by fuel — newer fleets help the electrified bars.

50%60%70%80%90%100%all cars 72.3%Petrol: 72.0% of 78,444 tests72.0%Petrol78,444 testsDiesel: 60.1% of 18,164 tests60.1%Diesel18,164 testsHybrid electric: 89.9% of 2,874 tests89.9%Hybrid2,874 tests
View this chart as a table
FuelTestsPass rate
Petrol78,44472.0%
Diesel18,16460.1%
Hybrid electric2,87489.9%

What mileage is normal for a Rio?

Mileage recorded at test by vehicle age, 2025. The line is the typical (median) Rio; the shaded band holds the middle half. A car far outside the band, in either direction, is worth questions the recorded history can answer.

Typical Rio (median)
0k25k50k75k100k125k35791113151719Vehicle age (years)Age 3: typical 21,250 miles (middle half 13,750–28,750)Age 4: typical 26,250 miles (middle half 16,250–36,250)Age 5: typical 31,250 miles (middle half 21,250–41,250)Age 6: typical 36,250 miles (middle half 26,250–48,750)Age 7: typical 43,750 miles (middle half 31,250–58,750)Age 8: typical 51,250 miles (middle half 36,250–68,750)Age 9: typical 53,750 miles (middle half 38,750–71,250)Age 10: typical 61,250 miles (middle half 46,250–81,250)Age 11: typical 71,250 miles (middle half 53,750–91,250)Age 12: typical 78,750 miles (middle half 58,750–98,750)Age 13: typical 86,250 miles (middle half 66,250–108,750)Age 14: typical 81,250 miles (middle half 61,250–106,250)Age 15: typical 83,750 miles (middle half 61,250–108,750)Age 16: typical 81,250 miles (middle half 58,750–106,250)Age 17: typical 88,750 miles (middle half 66,250–111,250)Age 18: typical 88,750 miles (middle half 63,750–111,250)Age 19: typical 86,250 miles (middle half 63,750–113,750)86k mi

Mileage values are midpoints of 2,500-mile bands.

View this chart as a table
Age (years)Lower quarterTypical (median)Upper quarter
313,75021,25028,750
416,25026,25036,250
521,25031,25041,250
626,25036,25048,750
731,25043,75058,750
836,25051,25068,750
938,75053,75071,250
1046,25061,25081,250
1153,75071,25091,250
1258,75078,75098,750
1366,25086,250108,750
1461,25081,250106,250
1561,25083,750108,750
1658,75081,250106,250
1766,25088,750111,250
1863,75088,750111,250
1963,75086,250113,750

What fails at each age

The Rio's failure mix by age band, 2025 — each band's top categories at their true share of that band's failure items; the pale remainder is everything else. How the mix shifts with age is the point of the chart.

TyresVisibilityBrakesLamps, reflectors and electrical equipmentSuspensionSteeringEverything else
View this chart as a table
Age bandCategoryShare of the band's failure items
3-5 yrsTyres34.0%
3-5 yrsVisibility23.5%
3-5 yrsBrakes16.3%
3-5 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment13.1%
3-5 yrsSuspension3.9%
3-5 yrsEverything else9.2%
6-9 yrsTyres28.5%
6-9 yrsBrakes21.8%
6-9 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment17.1%
6-9 yrsVisibility12.4%
6-9 yrsSuspension11.4%
6-9 yrsEverything else8.8%
10-13 yrsBrakes23.2%
10-13 yrsSuspension18.6%
10-13 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment18.4%
10-13 yrsTyres13.8%
10-13 yrsVisibility7.7%
10-13 yrsEverything else18.3%
14+ yrsSuspension22.6%
14+ yrsBrakes19.6%
14+ yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment18.6%
14+ yrsSteering13.0%
14+ yrsTyres8.3%
14+ yrsEverything else17.9%

More vehicles we've checked

How these figures are computed. Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from the DVSA anonymised MOT results dataset (every MOT test in Great Britain — 2025 for single-year figures; trend figures state their span, currently 2023–2025). Where a figure comes from a sample or uses banded values (mileage is banded to 2,500 miles), the page says so beside the figure. Test class 4 only, first tests only — retests are excluded. Class 4 is the car MOT class and also covers car-derived vans, pickups and motorhomes tested to the same standard; where this page says "cars" it means class 4. Pass rate = passes ÷ (passes + failures + pass-after-rectification): a vehicle that failed and was fixed during the visit counts as a fail. Pass rates describe fleets, not individual machines: they reflect how cars were driven, maintained and used as well as how they were built, and beyond recorded mileage none of that is in the data. A well-kept example of a model with a weak average can still pass; a neglected example of a strong one can still fail. No figure is shown for any group with fewer than 500 tests. Alias spellings of a make in the DVSA file are counted under one make name, and all trims and variants of a model are grouped under one model name, using SortedCars' grouping tables. The taxed and SORN counts on this page are the one exception: they are not computed from MOT records but taken from the Department for Transport's vehicle licensing statistics (DfT/DVLA table VEH0124, updated 15 July 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0), which count the cars on DVLA's register that were taxed or on SORN at the end of each year shown, UK-wide, cars only. They describe a model as a whole, grouped under SortedCars' model names, and say nothing about any one car. “Dangerous” is DVSA's statutory defect category (in force since May 2018): a defect posing an immediate risk to road safety — driving the vehicle before repair is an offence. What these figures are for. These statistics are general information about groups of vehicles. They are not advice, a valuation or a recommendation to buy, avoid or price any particular vehicle, and no decision about one car should rest on them alone — check the car itself and its own records. We take care over the calculations, but we cannot guarantee they are complete, current or free of error, and we accept no liability for loss arising from reliance on them. This does not limit any liability that cannot lawfully be limited — see our Terms & Conditions. If you believe any figure on this page is inaccurate, contact us. SortedCars is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the DVSA or DVLA. DVSA publishes the raw test records; the statistics on this page are SortedCars' own calculations from them. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.