Reliability report
Kia Ceed reliability and common faults
Based on 151,299 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
27.5%
fail rate · average 23.8%
much worse than average
111,392 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
32.0%
with defects · average 31.2%
about average
21,329 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
61.6%
first-time pass · average 64.7%
worse than average
18,578 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Kia Ceed
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Plates and identification
Driving controls
Steering
Brakesconfirmed in 2 countries
Visibilityconfirmed in 2 countries
Lights and electricsconfirmed in 2 countries
Tyres
Wheels
Suspension
Exhaust and emissions
Body and structure
Seat belts and airbags
Most common test failures
- 1Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 2Tyre insufficient tread
- 3Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 4Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 5Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility
- 6Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 7Tyre damaged
- 8Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
- 9Low beam / high beam doesn't work (properly)
- 10Turn signal color incorrect/not allowed
- 11Brake light doesn't work (properly)
- 12Tyre pressure monitoring system warning indicator is on
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 11.7% avg 9.9% | 27.0% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 16.2% avg 15.3% | 40.7% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 25.6% avg 22.9% | 44.0% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 37.1% avg 30.3% | — |
| 16–20 years | 39.3% avg 34.6% | — |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | Ceed | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 87.9% | 86.7% | 688 |
| 2020 | 78.7% | 78.6% | 427 |
| 2019 | 85.5% | 83.2% | 1,240 |
| 2018 | 80.8% | 79.5% | 1,008 |
| 2017 | 78.7% | 76.6% | 1,278 |
| 2016 | 73.7% | 72.8% | 726 |
| 2015 | 76.0% | 71.1% | 1,021 |
| 2014 | 70.3% | 68.0% | 1,112 |
| 2013 | 64.6% | 65.9% | 1,608 |
| 2012 | 60.8% | 63.7% | 961 |
| 2011 | 49.4% | 61.2% | 1,080 |
| 2010 | 45.6% | 57.3% | 932 |
| 2009 | 44.0% | 54.5% | 1,164 |
| 2008 | 47.3% | 52.4% | 3,187 |
| 2007 | 42.8% | 50.6% | 2,080 |
Kia Ceed – FAQs
How reliable is the Kia Ceed?+
In the UK the Kia Ceed fails 27.5% of MOT tests, against an average of 23.8% for cars of the same age – much worse than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 32.0% of APK inspections (average there 31.2%) – about average. In Lithuania 61.6% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 64.7%) – worse than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Kia Ceed?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: steering, brakes, visibility, lights and electrics.
What should I check when buying a used Kia Ceed?+
The most common inspection failures: Tyre pressure not at correct value; Tyre insufficient tread; Low beam incorrectly adjusted; Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Kia models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).