2013 · 11 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2013 Kia Optima MOT pass rate and common faults

326 MOT tests in 2024. 69.6% passed first time, compared with 66.8% for all cars the same age.

104Above average
Passed first time69.6%
Failed or needed repairs30.4%
Typical mileage at test94,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 326 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.6%
  2. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play4.0%
  3. Service brake performance: excessively binding3.4%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.4%
    13 marked dangerous
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.5%
  6. Anti-roll bars - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.1%
  7. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.8%
  8. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.8%
    10 marked dangerous
  9. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.8%
  10. Position lamp: not working1.5%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Brakes17.8%
  2. Suspension14.4%
  3. Lights & electrics8.9%
  4. Steering6.4%
  5. Tyres6.4%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.0%
  7. Emissions & leaks1.5%
  8. Body & chassis1.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.7%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.4%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.5%
  4. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded8.0%
  5. Service brake performance: excessively binding8.0%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2013 Kia Optima?

In 2024, 69.6% of 2013 Kia Optima cars passed their MOT first time, across 326 tests. The average for all 11-year-old cars was 66.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2013 Kia Optima?

The most common failure reasons were linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; service brake performance: excessively binding. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2013 Kia Optima reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 104, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).