Used car guide

2019 Kia RIO: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2019 Kia RIOs, from 4,853 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,853MOT tests in 2025
84%pass first time (all 2019 cars: 84%)
6,000typical miles a year
6.3×the usual rate for ball joint dust cover

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2019 Kia RIOs than on all cars registered in 2019.

  • Ball joint dust cover6.3× usual
    Kia RIO
    2.5% All 2019 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 0.2% of all 2019 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.

By area

The share of 2019 Kia RIO MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    28% 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.

  • Brakes
    16% 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
    7% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • 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.

  • Steering
    2% 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
20224,657Tyres 15%
20213,649Tyres 23%
20203,392Tyres 27%
20185,718Tyres 30%
20178,022Tyres 31%
20168,810Tyres 32%
201511,334Tyres 32%
201410,800Tyres 33%
20139,587Brakes 34%
20128,599Suspension 38%
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 2019 Kia RIOs registered in 2019. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score