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

In 2025, 85.1% of Kia Souls first used in 2017 passed their MOT first time, against 78.2% for all cars first used in 2017. Across 5,076 Soul first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were brakes, tyres and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen).

This page analyses first MOT tests for Kia Souls 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
85.1%
of 1,685 first tests; all cars first used in 2017: 78.2%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
5,076
first tests, 2023–2025; 1,685 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
51.5%
of 1,685 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
46,500
middle half: 33,000–63,500 miles; all cars first used in 2017: 60,000

How the 2017 Kia Soul MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Souls 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 Soul figure was 6.9 points higher.

2017 SoulAll 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 Soul, test year 2021: 87.1%2017 Soul, test year 2022: 86.5%2017 Soul, test year 2023: 84.1%2017 Soul, test year 2024: 84.1%2017 Soul, test year 2025: 85.1%85.1%78.2%
View this chart as a table
Test year2017 SoulAll cars first used 2017Soul first tests
202187.1%85.9%1,729
202286.5%83.9%1,723
202384.1%81.7%1,708
202484.1%79.8%1,683
202585.1%78.2%1,685

Common 2017 Kia Soul MOT failures

Share of the 790 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%.

Brakes34.1%
Tyres31.3%
Visibility22.0%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment18.2%
Suspension6.7%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively12.9%102
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick12.3%97
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm11.4%90
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords10.5%83

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

What to check on a 2017 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. 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.

Common 2017 Kia Soul MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2017 Souls, as a share of all 5,076 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge13.4%680
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing10.1%511
Brake pads: wearing thin8.7%443
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened7.1%361
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively2.9%145

Questions about the 2017 Kia Soul MOT

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

In 2025, 85.1% of Souls 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 Soul most often fail its MOT on?

Brakes (in 34.1% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), tyres (31.3%) and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (22.0%). The single most common item was “Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively” (12.9%).

How often does a 2017 Kia Soul fail its MOT?

In 2025, 14.9% of first tests on Souls first used in 2017 did not pass first time: 12.2% failed, and a further 2.7% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 790 of 5,076 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2017 Kia Soul MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 13.4% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (10.1%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (8.7%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (7.1%) and “Brake discs: worn, but not excessively” (2.9%).

Is a 2017 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 87.1% in 2021 to 85.1% 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 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. “2017 Soul” means a Kia Soul 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.