Used car guide

2010 Kia Ceed diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Kia Ceed first registered in 2010 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 13,605 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

13,605MOTs of 2010 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
50%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 60%)
7,800typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2010 Kia Ceed diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2010 Kia Ceed diesel than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2× usual
    Kia Ceed
    19.8% All 2010 cars
    10.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 2.1% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints3.4× usual
    Kia Ceed
    13.4% All 2010 cars
    3.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.2%, against 1.5% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

  • Steering rack8× usual
    Kia Ceed
    8% All 2010 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 0.5% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Braking performance2.1× usual
    Kia Ceed
    12.7% All 2010 cars
    6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.4%, against 2.4% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

  • Number plate lights1.8× usual
    Kia Ceed
    15.1% All 2010 cars
    8.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 2.4% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 0.4% here, against 6.5% of all 2010 cars. Shock absorbers: 1.8% here, against 7.2% of all 2010 cars.

Common 2010 Kia Ceed diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2010 Kia Ceed diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    56% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    43% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    42% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    39% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Steering
    17% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    13% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Known faults on the 2010 Kia Ceed diesel

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2010 Kia Ceed diesel

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

  1. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2010 Kia Ceed diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.4× as often on the 2010 Kia Ceed diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the steering rack? (Flagged at MOT 8× as often on the 2010 Kia Ceed diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Kia Ceed?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Kia Ceed compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023340Tyres 15%
20227,233Tyres 23%
202110,372Tyres 27%
202012,876Tyres 28%
201929,678Tyres 32%
201827,591Tyres 31%
201725,465Tyres 32%
201628,702Tyres 31%
201533,439Tyres 31%
201433,040Brakes 32%
201332,696Suspension 40%
201234,722Suspension 47%
201121,281Suspension 50%
200920,913Suspension 55%
200813,584Suspension 58%
20077,253Suspension 57%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Kia Ceed cars first registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score