Used car guide

2011 Kia Ceed: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Kia Ceeds, from 6,570 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

6,570MOT tests in 2025
51%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
7,400typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

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

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.9× usual
    Kia Ceed
    20.3% All 2011 cars
    10.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 2.3% of all 2011 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.

  • Brake lights2.5× usual
    Kia Ceed
    10.9% All 2011 cars
    4.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.1%, against 3.4% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Ball joint dust cover3× usual
    Kia Ceed
    9.3% All 2011 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 1.3% 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.

  • Number plate lights1.7× usual
    Kia Ceed
    13.7% All 2011 cars
    8.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 2.3% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 1.4% here, against 7.6% of all 2011 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 0.6% here, against 6.1% of all 2011 cars.

By area

The share of 2011 Kia Ceed 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    42% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    40% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    13% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Steering
    10% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

Looking at a Kia Ceed?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20226,674Tyres 23%
20215,211Tyres 29%
20204,288Tyres 31%
20199,967Tyres 33%
20189,180Tyres 31%
20178,545Tyres 32%
20169,556Tyres 31%
201511,108Tyres 31%
201410,855Suspension 37%
201310,611Suspension 45%
201211,026Suspension 52%
20107,035Suspension 56%
20096,077Suspension 58%
20083,700Suspension 62%
20071,997Suspension 59%

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