Used car guide

2008 Kia Carens: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Kia Carenss, from 711 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

711MOT tests in 2025
53%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
5,900typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for ball joint

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Kia Carenss than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Ball joint2.5× usual
    Kia Carens
    16% All 2008 cars
    6.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.6%, against 3.2% of all 2008 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.

  • Brake pads2× usual
    Kia Carens
    17.6% All 2008 cars
    8.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 2.1% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Suspension arm3.3× usual
    Kia Carens
    12.1% All 2008 cars
    3.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 0.4% of all 2008 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 joints2.9× usual
    Kia Carens
    12% All 2008 cars
    4.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 1.6% of all 2008 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.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 3% here, against 8% of all 2008 cars.

By area

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

  • Suspension
    59% 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
    46% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    34% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    17% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    11% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

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%
2009854Suspension 58%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Kia Carenss registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score