Used car guide

2020 Kia RIO hybrid: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the hybrid Kia RIO first registered in 2020 (hybrid cars only): we looked at the 548 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

548MOTs of 2020 hybrid cars, done in 2023–2025
90%pass first time (all 2020 cars: 87%)
5,800typical miles a year
26.5×the usual rate for track rod ends

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2020 Kia RIO hybrid?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2020 Kia RIO hybrid than on all cars registered in 2020.

  • Track rod ends26.5× usual
    Kia RIO
    10.6% All 2020 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 0.1% of all 2020 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.

Common 2020 Kia RIO hybrid MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2020 Kia RIO hybrid MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    20% 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.

  • Suspension
    12% 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
    10% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    5% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Lights and electrics
    4% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2020 Kia RIO hybrid

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 26.5× as often on the 2020 Kia RIO hybrid as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Kia RIO?

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 RIO compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023199Tyres 8%
20224,885Tyres 15%
20217,219Tyres 20%
201914,358Tyres 25%
201816,943Tyres 29%
201723,978Tyres 31%
201626,231Tyres 32%
201533,792Tyres 32%
201432,699Tyres 33%
201329,473Brakes 34%
201226,746Brakes 35%
201120,317Suspension 50%
201017,923Suspension 54%
200914,107Suspension 54%
20085,967Suspension 59%
20073,499Suspension 57%
20062,776Suspension 56%
20051,507Suspension 53%
2004860Lights and electrics 50%
2003486Lights and electrics 52%
2002280Brakes 57%
2001–Too few tests

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 RIO cars first registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score