Used car guide

2021 Kia Ceed: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Kia Ceeds, from 5,211 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,211MOT tests in 2025
84%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
9,500typical miles a year
10.1×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Kia Ceeds than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints10.1× usual
    Kia Ceed
    11.1% All 2021 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 0.2% of all 2021 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 discs1.9× usual
    Kia Ceed
    13.4% All 2021 cars
    7.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.3% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look through the wheel at the brake disc: a deep lip at the edge or heavy scoring means they're worn. Feel for judder when braking.

  • Braking performance2.5× usual
    Kia Ceed
    2% All 2021 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.2% of all 2021 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.

By area

The share of 2021 Kia Ceed MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    29% 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.

  • Brakes
    18% 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
    12% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Lights and electrics
    5% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20226,674Tyres 23%
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%
20116,570Suspension 54%
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 2021 Kia Ceeds registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score