Used car guide

2006 Kia Carens: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 Kia Carenss, from 183 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 183 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

183MOT tests in 2025
39%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)
5,000typical miles a year
3.2×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2006 Kia Carenss than on all cars registered in 2006.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints3.2× usual
    Kia Carens
    24% All 2006 cars
    7.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 16.9%, against 3.4% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

By area

The share of 2006 Kia Carens MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    58% 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.

  • Suspension
    48% 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
    48% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    44% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    25% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    20% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Kia Carens?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20181,646Tyres 33%
20171,862Tyres 31%
20161,779Brakes 35%
20152,079Brakes 39%
20142,089Tyres 37%
20131,310Brakes 39%
2011278Suspension 54%
2010281Suspension 52%
2009854Suspension 58%
2008711Suspension 59%
2007292Suspension 64%
2005105Brakes 52%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2006 Kia Carenss registered in 2006. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score