Used car guide

2021 Kia Picanto: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Kia Picantos, from 8,414 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

8,414MOT tests in 2025
86%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
4,800typical miles a year
1.6×the usual rate for tyre condition

What stands out

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

  • Tyre condition1.6× usual
    Kia Picanto
    18.4% All 2021 cars
    11.5%
    Rough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges. Uneven wear can point to tracking or suspension problems.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints4.4× usual
    Kia Picanto
    4.8% All 2021 cars
    1.1%
    Rough price £100–£300

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Wipers1.7× usual
    Kia Picanto
    6.4% All 2021 cars
    3.8%
    Rough price £15–£60

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

  • Daytime running lamps21× usual
    Kia Picanto
    2.1% All 2021 cars
    0.1%
    Rough price £10–£80

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

Better than most

Brake discs: 2.4% here, against 7.1% of all 2021 cars.

By area

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

  • Tyres
    25% 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
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Suspension
    6% 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.

  • Brakes
    6% 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.

  • 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
    1% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

Looking at a Kia Picanto?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20226,657Tyres 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%
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 2021 Kia Picantos registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score