Kia RIO - 2021
60.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2021 is 80.0 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Kia RIO, model year 2021.
Sample size: 3,688 cars, 7,179 tests and 4,305 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 3,688 cars
The 2021 KIA RIO has an overall defect rate of 60 per 100 vehicles, which is significantly lower than the yearly average of 79 per 100, representing a 24% improvement. The model shows notable strengths in categories such as Brakes and Lights & Electrics, where it performs better than average by 37% and 52% respectively. However, it stands out negatively in the Steering category, with a defect rate that is over ten times higher than the average. Additionally, mileage-related trends indicate a sharp increase in defects as mileage increases, particularly after 93,000 miles. Overall, the KIA RIO demonstrates a commendable reliability profile compared to its peers.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 3,688 cars
More model years for Kia RIO
Other models from Kia
Categories
Brakes
▲ 40.0% better
24.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 40.0 / 100 tests
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
- 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
▼ 1,142.9% worse
8.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 0.7 / 100 tests
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
- Excessive wear or play in a universal joint or a flexible coupling excessively deteriorated
- 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
Visibility
▼ 5.5% worse
15.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.5 / 100 tests
- 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
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 52.7% better
5.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.2 / 100 tests
- A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 26.2% better
64.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 87.3 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
- A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
Body/Structure
▲ 76.2% better
0.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.1 / 100 tests
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
- A body panel or body component: likely to become detached
- Bumper: insecure or with damage likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted
- A body panel or body component: damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure
- A body panel or body component: damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure
Equipment
▲ 73.3% better
0.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 1.5 / 100 tests
- A seat belt:
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type
Other
▲ 48.1% better
1.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.7 / 100 tests
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
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: 998
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 831
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 426
A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 274
Wiper blade: defective
MINOR
Occurrences: 166
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 162
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 142
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 135
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 124
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 96
Serious faults (Top 10)
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 142
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 96
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 85
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 74
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 49
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 33
A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
FAIL
Occurrences: 32
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 23
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 16
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 15