Kia Optima MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Kia Optima. Check any Optima by registration number below.

Free, instant, no sign-up required.

79.9%

Avg Pass Rate

-6.3%

vs Kia Avg

Year Ranges

Good

Reliability

Kia Optima — MOT Reliability Overview

The Kia Optima has an average MOT pass rate of 79.9%, which is 6.3 percentage points below the Kia brand average of 86.2%. This is a reasonable result that reflects typical UK reliability standards. Regular servicing and addressing advisories promptly will help keep your Optima on the road.

The most common reasons a Kia Optima fails its MOT are a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake. If you are preparing your Optima for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used Kia Optima, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Kia Optima performs at MOT across different model years.

2020

Based on 369 vehicles

90.8%Excellent

Kia average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

2.7%

Retest Rate

9.0%

Mileage at 3yr

67k mi

Mileage at 5yr

120k mi

2019

Based on 4,443 vehicles

86.9%Excellent

Kia average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

4.1%

Retest Rate

11.9%

Mileage at 3yr

77k mi

Mileage at 5yr

95k mi

2018

Based on 7,004 vehicles

87.1%Excellent

Kia average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

5.9%

Retest Rate

12.7%

Mileage at 5yr

95k mi

2017

Based on 8,382 vehicles

85.0%Excellent

Kia average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

6.1%

Retest Rate

14.7%

Mileage at 5yr

107k mi

2016

Based on 3,185 vehicles

85.3%Excellent

Kia average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

5.7%

Retest Rate

14.7%

2015

Based on 1,666 vehicles

80.7%Good

Kia average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

6.7%

Retest Rate

20.3%

Mileage at 10yr

136k mi

2014

Based on 1,527 vehicles

73.6%Average

Kia average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

7.9%

Retest Rate

26.0%

Mileage at 10yr

142k mi

2013

Based on 855 vehicles

74.6%Average

Kia average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

6.8%

Retest Rate

20.9%

Mileage at 10yr

152k mi

2012

Based on 1,799 vehicles

66.5%Average

Kia average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

8.3%

Retest Rate

32.1%

Mileage at 10yr

147k mi

2011

Based on 79 vehicles

63.3%Below Average

Kia average: 86.2%

Dangerous Defects

12.5%

Retest Rate

27.5%

0

Based on 13,380 vehicles

84.7%Good

Kia average: 86.2%

Mileage at 5yr

68k mi

Top MOT Failures — Kia Optima

The most common reasons a Kia Optima fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play

2.6%

A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

2.5%

Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake

2.4%

Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement

2.2%

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

1.9%

Kia Optima Common Faults & Repair Costs

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Front Offside

4.3%

Front Nearside

2.2%

Nearside

1.9%

Other Kia Models

Compare MOT reliability across Kia models.

Kia Magentis

60.1% pass rate

Kia X Ceed

100.0% pass rate

Kia Carens

56.6% pass rate

Kia Xceed Edition Isg

90.2% pass rate

Kia Ceed

87.6% pass rate

Kia Sorento

80.3% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for Kia Optima

Kia Optima — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Kia Optima MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Kia Optima?

The average MOT pass rate for the Kia Optima is 79.9% compared to the Kia average of 86.2%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.

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

The most common MOT failures on the Kia Optima are: A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play (2.6%), A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.5%), Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake (2.4%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.

Is the Kia Optima reliable?

With an average MOT pass rate of 79.9%, the Kia Optima is rated as "Good" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.

How do I check the MOT history of a Kia Optima?

Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.

What mileage should I expect on a Kia Optima?

Typical mileage for the Kia Optima: 66,552 miles at 3 years, 120,197 miles at 5 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used Optima to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Kia Optima's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.