Used car guide · 2000–2019

Kia Carens common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Kia Carens, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 44,248 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

44,248MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
14,597on the UK register
2014best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

20192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000

What usually goes wrong with a Kia Carens?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Kia Carens in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Kia Carens MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Brake lights

    up to 5.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Brake pads

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)

    up to 24× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for an engine warning light.

  • Exhaust system

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2013, 2015 and 2016.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints

    up to 3.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Suspension arm

    up to 3.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

Diesel

  • Brake pads

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints

    up to 4.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Braking performance

    up to 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Ball joint

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Brake discs

    up to 1.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

    Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look through the wheel at the brake disc: a deep lip at the edge or heavy scoring means they're worn. Feel for judder when braking.

Kia Carens MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2014 Kia Carens did best (65% passed first time, 5 points below all 2014 cars) and the 2006 did worst (41%, 15 points below all 2006 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201973%85% -12269 (small sample)
201875%83% -84,844
201773%80% -75,533
201669%77% -85,331
201568%74% -66,361
201465%70% -56,477
201362%67% -54,112
201253%64% -11272 (small sample)
201149%62% -131,008
201054%60% -6969
200951%59% -83,208
200849%57% -82,865
200746%57% -111,285
200641%56% -15809
200538%57% -19434 (small sample)
200440%57% -17294 (small sample)
200347%57% -10177 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Kia Carens

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the brake pads? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the Kia Carens as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.8× as often on the Kia Carens as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the brake lights? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the Kia Carens as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Kia Carens?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score