Used car guide

2012 Kia Picanto: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Kia Picantos, from 12,875 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

12,875MOT tests in 2025
60%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
5,000typical miles a year
3.5×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Kia Picantos than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Rigid brake pipes3.5× usual
    Kia Picanto
    19.4% All 2012 cars
    5.5%
    Rough price £100–£400

    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.

  • Seat belts6.1× usual
    Kia Picanto
    7.9% All 2012 cars
    1.3%
    Rough price £80–£250

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

  • Braking performance2× usual
    Kia Picanto
    9.6% All 2012 cars
    4.9%
    Rough price £100–£350

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)4.1× usual
    Kia Picanto
    4.5% All 2012 cars
    1.1%
    Rough price £100–£500

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 1.2% here, against 6.5% of all 2012 cars. Engine oil leaks: 2.7% here, against 7.3% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Kia Picanto MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    43% 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
    32% 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.

  • Suspension
    30% 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
    30% 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
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    9% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20226,657Tyres 25%
20218,414Tyres 25%
20207,883Tyres 29%
201916,297Tyres 29%
201816,345Tyres 29%
201713,261Tyres 29%
201612,541Brakes 31%
201513,596Brakes 34%
201414,407Brakes 37%
201312,590Brakes 40%
201110,186Brakes 43%
201012,280Brakes 39%
200911,801Suspension 41%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Kia Picantos registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score