Kia Magentis: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Kia Magentis fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 13.8 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 580 individual Kia Magentis tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 62.9% first-time pass rate means roughly 37 in every 100 Kia Magentis presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Kia Magentis tested had covered 87,202 miles and was built around 2007.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Kia Magentis sits 13.8 points below the national average, ranked 1,899 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Kia Magentis rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Kia Magentis at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Kia Magentis

1. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 5.9% of tests (16.78x the national rate for this defect)
2. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 4.5% of tests (10.8x the national rate for this defect)
3. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 4.1% of tests (4.38x the national rate for this defect)
4. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 4.3% of tests (4.16x the national rate for this defect)
5. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 4.3% of tests (4.03x the national rate for this defect)
6. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 4.5% of tests (3.44x the national rate for this defect)
7. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 7.6% of tests (3.23x the national rate for this defect)
8. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 3.6% of tests (2.78x the national rate for this defect)
9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 13.3% of tests (2.64x the national rate for this defect)
10. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3.6% of tests (2.16x the national rate for this defect)

From 580 DVSA-tracked Kia Magentis tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.47% of these flagged Kia Magentis defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Kia Magentis

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Kia Magentis before it actually fails on it.

1. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 11.2% of tests (5.61x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
2. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 28.1% of tests (5.43x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 5.5% of tests (4.99x the national rate for this advisory)
4. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 9.1% of tests (3.45x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 16.4% of tests (2.95x the national rate for this advisory)
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 38.6% of tests (2.89x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
7. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 12.6% of tests (2.66x the national rate for this advisory)
8. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 15.5% of tests (2.51x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 29% of tests (2.37x the national rate for this advisory)
10. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 5.3% of tests (1.88x the national rate for this advisory)

From 580 DVSA-tracked Kia Magentis tests, 2024.

Other Kia models

• Kia Sportage - 79.4%
• Kia Picanto - 75.7%
• Kia Ceed - 71.6%
• Kia Rio - 74.3%
• Kia Niro - 90.3%
• Kia Venga - 78.4%
• Kia Sorento - 72.6%
• Kia Soul - 73.7%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Fiat Punto Evo - 63%
• Hyundai Terracan - 63%
• Jaguar X-Type - 62.9%
• Mazda 323 - 62.8%
• Nissan D22 - 62.7%
• Rover 75 - 62.6%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

Embed this data

Run a site about the Kia Magentis? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/kia-magentis"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/kia-magentis.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="Kia Magentis MOT Pass Rate: 62.9% - Salvage Prophet"></a>

Run a garage or parts site? Embed the Kia Magentis's top real failure reason instead, linked back here.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/kia-magentis"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/kia-magentis.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="Kia Magentis most common MOT failure: A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded (5.9% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate