2008 Kia RIO petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2008 Kia RIO petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2008 Kia RIO petrol than on all cars registered in 2008.

• Track rod ends3.9× usual
  Kia RIO

  20% All 2008 cars

  5.1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 11.3%, against 2.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

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

• Sub-frame2.4× usual
  Kia RIO

  14.7% All 2008 cars

  6.1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 0.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

  At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

• Braking performance2.2× usual
  Kia RIO

  14.2% All 2008 cars

  6.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5.4%, against 2.7% of all 2008 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.

• Brake lights1.9× usual
  Kia RIO

  10.3% All 2008 cars

  5.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 8.1%, against 4.5% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  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.

• Number plates1.7× usual
  Kia RIO

  9.1% All 2008 cars

  5.3%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.5% of all 2008 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.

Common 2008 Kia RIO petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2008 Kia RIO petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Suspension
  57% 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.

• Brakes
  43% 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
  36% 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.

• Lights and electrics
  35% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

• 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.

• Exhaust and emissions
  10% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

  At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2008 Kia RIO petrol

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

1. Any recent work on the track rod ends? (Flagged at MOT 3.9× as often on the 2008 Kia RIO petrol as on other cars the same age.)
2. Any recent work on the sub-frame? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the 2008 Kia RIO petrol as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2008 Kia RIO petrol as on other cars the same age.)
4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?