Used car guide

2015 Kia Picanto: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2015 Kia Picantos, from 13,596 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

13,596MOT tests in 2025
74%pass first time (all 2015 cars: 72%)
4,700typical miles a year
4×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2015 Kia Picantos than on all cars registered in 2015.

  • Rigid brake pipes4× usual
    Kia Picanto
    9.9% All 2015 cars
    2.5%
    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.

  • Braking performance2.2× usual
    Kia Picanto
    7% All 2015 cars
    3.2%
    Rough price £100–£350

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

  • Handbrake performance9× usual
    Kia Picanto
    3.6% All 2015 cars
    0.4%
    Rough price £80–£300

    At the viewing: Pull the handbrake on a slope. It should hold the car within a few clicks.

  • Seat belts3× usual
    Kia Picanto
    2.7% All 2015 cars
    0.9%
    Rough price £80–£250

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

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 0.7% here, against 5.2% of all 2015 cars. Coil springs: 2% here, against 5.4% of all 2015 cars.

By area

The share of 2015 Kia Picanto MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    34% 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
    30% 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
    14% 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
    11% 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
    8% 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
    2% 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 Picanto?

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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%
201414,407Brakes 37%
201312,590Brakes 40%
201212,875Brakes 43%
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 2015 Kia Picantos registered in 2015. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score