Used car guide

2006 Kia Cerato: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 Kia Ceratos, from 222 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 222 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

222MOT tests in 2025
47%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)
4,300typical miles a year
2.4×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

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

  • Rigid brake pipes2.4× usual
    Kia Cerato
    33.3% All 2006 cars
    14.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.3%, against 2.3% of all 2006 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.

  • Sub-frame2.4× usual
    Kia Cerato
    17.1% All 2006 cars
    7.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.5%, against 0.3% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Braking performance2.1× usual
    Kia Cerato
    14% All 2006 cars
    6.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.3%, against 2.6% of all 2006 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 2006 Kia Cerato MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    59% 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
    55% 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
    43% 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
    40% 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
    21% 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.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2005232Brakes 58%

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