Used car guide

2012 Kia RIO: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Kia RIOs, from 8,599 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

8,599MOT tests in 2025
60%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
6,700typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

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

  • Sub-frame2.2× usual
    Kia RIO
    11.2% All 2012 cars
    5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.3% of all 2012 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.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.7× usual
    Kia RIO
    7.8% All 2012 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.8%, against 1.2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Number plate lights1.7× usual
    Kia RIO
    12.1% All 2012 cars
    7.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 2.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Airbag warning light6.2× usual
    Kia RIO
    3.7% All 2012 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 0.6% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    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

Coil springs: 2.2% here, against 9.6% of all 2012 cars. Shock absorbers: 1.5% here, against 6.5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

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

  • Suspension
    38% 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
    36% 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
    33% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    31% 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
    7% 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.

Looking at a Kia RIO?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20224,657Tyres 15%
20213,649Tyres 23%
20203,392Tyres 27%
20194,853Tyres 28%
20185,718Tyres 30%
20178,022Tyres 31%
20168,810Tyres 32%
201511,334Tyres 32%
201410,800Tyres 33%
20139,587Brakes 34%
20116,386Suspension 53%
20105,435Suspension 57%
20094,180Suspension 57%
20081,662Suspension 61%
2007932Suspension 58%
2006727Suspension 58%

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