In 2025, 46,373 Kia Venga cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 71% passed first time, compared with 71% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the Venga about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 134 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 6 years old, 89% of Vengas passed first time (all cars that age: 84%). By 15 years, that figure is 54% (all cars: 59%). It starts out ahead of the average car but falls behind from around 11 years, which is worth knowing if you are buying an older one.
Kia Venga All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | Venga passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 years | 2,639 | 89% | 84% | 27,618 |
| 7 years | 3,669 | 88% | 81% | 34,627 |
| 8 years | 5,900 | 84% | 78% | 42,051 |
| 9 years | 5,650 | 79% | 75% | 48,302 |
| 10 years | 6,126 | 75% | 72% | 55,722 |
| 11 years | 5,334 | 64% | 69% | 63,413 |
| 12 years | 5,511 | 62% | 66% | 69,636 |
| 13 years | 4,797 | 59% | 63% | 75,082 |
| 14 years | 4,071 | 55% | 61% | 81,536 |
| 15 years | 2,653 | 54% | 59% | 86,141 |
What fails most on a Kia Venga
The area that lets the Venga down most, relative to other cars, is steering: 8.3% of tests failed on it, 3.8 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on body and structure and emissions and leaks.
Share of Venga tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | Steering | 7.0% |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 6.1% |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 4.1% |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | Suspension | 3.9% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 3.3% |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | Visibility | 3.3% |
What to check when buying a used Venga
Based on where the Venga fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Steering: Feel for play or knocking through the wheel, and check power-steering fluid isn’t leaking. More
- Lights and electrics: Walk round with the lights on: headlights (dipped and main), indicators, brake lights, number-plate and fog lights. Bulbs are cheap, but a seller who hasn’t noticed one out may have missed more. Repair guide
- Visibility: Check the windscreen for chips in the driver’s view, the wipers for smearing and the washers for working jets. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific Venga
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a VengaFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Kia Venga?
In 2025, 71% of Kia Venga cars passed their MOT first time, across 46,373 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 71%.
What do Kia Venga cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play (7.0% of tests); a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (6.1% of tests); stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (4.1% of tests).
Other Kia models
Kia Sportage (75%), Kia Picanto (71%), Kia Ceed (66%), Kia Rio (70%), Kia Niro (87%), Kia Sorento (68%). All Kia models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.