Used car guide

2011 Kia Carens: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Kia Carenss, from 278 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 278 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

278MOT tests in 2025
46%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
7,000typical miles a year
4.1×the usual rate for anti-roll bar link joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Kia Carenss than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints4.1× usual
    Kia Carens
    15.5% All 2011 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.8%, against 1.4% of all 2011 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.

  • Ball joint2.3× usual
    Kia Carens
    14% All 2011 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.5%, against 3.2% of all 2011 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.

  • Braking performance2.2× usual
    Kia Carens
    11.9% All 2011 cars
    5.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 2.1% of all 2011 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.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.1× usual
    Kia Carens
    12.6% All 2011 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

By area

The share of 2011 Kia Carens MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    54% 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
    38% 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
    14% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    8% 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%
2010281Suspension 52%
2009854Suspension 58%
2008711Suspension 59%
2007292Suspension 64%
2006183Brakes 58%
2005105Brakes 52%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2011 Kia Carenss registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score