Kia OPTIMA - 2012
275.9 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2012 is 249.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Kia OPTIMA, model year 2012.
Sample size: 675 cars, 1,613 tests and 4,451 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 675 cars
The 2012 KIA Optima has a higher overall defect rate of approximately 276 defects per 100 vehicles, which is about 12% worse than the average for cars of the same year. Notably, the Optima shows significant issues with brakes and steering, with defect rates of 167 and 38 per 100 vehicles, respectively, both considerably above the average. In contrast, the model performs better in categories such as visibility and lights and electrics, showing lower defect rates than the average. Mileage trends indicate that defects are particularly high in the lowest mileage category, suggesting early issues that may not be as prevalent in other vehicles. Overall, while the Optima excels in some areas, its performance in key safety-related categories raises concerns.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 675 cars
More model years for Kia OPTIMA
Other models from Kia
Categories
Brakes
▼ 60.4% worse
166.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 103.8 / 100 tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▼ 189.4% worse
38.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.2 / 100 tests
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
- Excessive wear or play in a universal joint or a flexible coupling excessively deteriorated
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Excessive radial movement between the top of the steering column and the shaft indicating an excessively worn top bearing
Visibility
▲ 20.3% better
15.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 19.2 / 100 tests
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: defective
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 24.7% better
46.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.9 / 100 tests
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has only one lamp or all lamps not working
- Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
- Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
- A battery insecure: but not likely to fall from carrier
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 4.0% worse
254.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 244.4 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
Body/Structure
▲ 56.5% better
11.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.2 / 100 tests
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
- Bumper: insecure or with damage likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
Equipment
▲ 33.9% better
4.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 6.2 / 100 tests
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
- Audible warning:
- A statutory seat belt missing
Other
▲ 33.9% better
15.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 23.6 / 100 tests
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limit
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Exhaust emits excessive dense blue or clearly visible black smoke during acceleration which would obscure the view of other road users
- Smoke opacity levels exceed default limit
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 547
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 398
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 392
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 279
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 237
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 171
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 138
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 127
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 117
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
MINOR
Occurrences: 104
Serious faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 138
A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
FAIL
Occurrences: 93
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 90
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 63
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 52
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 51
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 42
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 42
Parking brake inoperative on one side, or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight line
FAIL
Occurrences: 39
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 37