2016 Kia Soul MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 78.2% of Kia Souls first used in 2016 passed their MOT first time, against 74.9% for all cars first used in 2016. Across 6,412 Soul 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 Souls first used in 2016 (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
78.2%
of 2,114 first tests; all cars first used in 2016: 74.9%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
6,412
first tests, 2023–2025; 2,114 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
43.5%
of 2,114 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
56,000
middle half: 40,000–73,000 miles; all cars first used in 2016: 67,500

How the 2016 Kia Soul MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Souls first used in 2016 against all cars first used in 2016 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Soul figure was 3.3 points higher.

2016 SoulAll cars first used in 2016
70%80%90%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2016, test year 2021: 82.7%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2022: 80.9%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2023: 78.6%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2024: 76.7%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2025: 74.9%2016 Soul, test year 2021: 85.9%2016 Soul, test year 2022: 87.2%2016 Soul, test year 2023: 84.1%2016 Soul, test year 2024: 82%2016 Soul, test year 2025: 78.2%78.2%74.9%
View this chart as a table
Test year2016 SoulAll cars first used 2016Soul first tests
202185.9%82.7%2,187
202287.2%80.9%2,187
202384.1%78.6%2,152
202482.0%76.7%2,146
202578.2%74.9%2,114

Common 2016 Kia Soul MOT failures

Share of the 1,189 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%.

Brakes40.5%
Tyres30.3%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment19.3%
Visibility17.6%
Suspension10.9%
Noise, emissions and leaks2.5%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick12.4%147
Parking brake efficiency (sp): efficiency below requirements12.0%143
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm11.9%141
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively9.3%110
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords8.1%96

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

What to check on a 2016 Kia Soul 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 2016 Kia Soul MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2016 Souls, as a share of all 6,412 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge15.2%975
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing10.4%667
Brake pads: wearing thin10.2%651
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened8.6%551
Service brake performance: binding but not excessively2.9%189

Questions about the 2016 Kia Soul MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2016 Kia Soul?

In 2025, 78.2% of Souls first used in 2016 passed their MOT first time, against 74.9% for all cars first used in 2016. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2016 Soul most often fail its MOT on?

Brakes (in 40.5% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), tyres (30.3%) and lamps and electrical equipment (19.3%). The single most common item was “Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick” (12.4%).

How often does a 2016 Kia Soul fail its MOT?

In 2025, 21.8% of first tests on Souls first used in 2016 did not pass first time: 18.1% failed, and a further 3.6% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 1,189 of 6,412 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2016 Kia Soul MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 15.2% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (10.4%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (10.2%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (8.6%) and “Service brake performance: binding but not excessively” (2.9%).

Is a 2016 Kia Soul 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 85.9% in 2021 to 78.2% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2016

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

2016 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2016 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2016 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2016 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2016 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics

How the 2016 Kia Soul 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. “2016 Soul” means a Kia Soul whose date of first use falls in 2016 (65, 16 and 66 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 2016, 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.