Kia Optima: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Kia Optima passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 5 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 11,356 individual Kia Optima tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate81.7%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+5 points
Tests analysed11,356
Average mileage at test77,060 miles
Average year of manufacture2017
Reliability rank1,390 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 81.7% first-time pass rate means roughly 18 in every 100 Kia Optimas presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Kia Optima tested had covered 77,060 miles and was built around 2017.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Kia Optima sits 5 points above the national average, ranked 1,390 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

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 Optima 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 Optimas at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Kia Optima

  1. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 4.3% of tests (2.01x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.4% of tests (1.34x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2% of tests (1.21x the national rate for this defect)
  4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.7% of tests (1.16x the national rate for this defect)
  5. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.7% of tests
  6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.8% of tests
  7. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 1.4% of tests
  8. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 1.3% of tests
  9. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.1% of tests
  10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1% of tests

From 11,342 DVSA-tracked Kia Optima tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 8.58% of these flagged Kia Optima defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Kia Optima

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 Optima before it actually fails on it.

  1. Parking brake control missing, defective or inoperative, 0.8% of tests (14.34x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 1.5% of tests (1.77x the national rate for this advisory)
  3. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 16% of tests (1.72x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  4. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.3% of tests (1.66x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 33.6% of tests (1.26x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  6. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 3.9% of tests (1.24x the national rate for this advisory)
  7. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 12.7% of tests
  8. A tyre seriously damaged, 12.3% of tests, also fails
  9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 4.5% of tests, also fails
  10. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 4.1% of tests

From 11,342 DVSA-tracked Kia Optima tests, 2024.

Kia Optima pass rate by model year

From its 2012 to its 2019 model year, the Kia Optima's first-time pass rate has risen 22.6 points, from 62.7% to 85.3%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Kia Optima year:

Kia Optima by fuel type

The Kia Optima's two most-tested fuel types split by 7.8 points: diesel passes first time 81.6% of the time (10,322 tests) against 89.4% for hybrid (870 tests).

Other Kia models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Kia Optima MOT pass rate badge: 81.7%

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Kia Optima most common MOT failure: a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm (4.3% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate