Used car guide · 2011–2020

Kia Optima common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Kia Optima, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 10,961 MOTs done during 2025), and what to check before you buy one.

10,961MOTs done in 2025, all years of this model
11,011on the UK register
2016best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2020201920182017201620152014201320122011

What usually goes wrong with a Kia Optima?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Kia Optima in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Kia Optima MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2025.

  • Braking performance

    up to 3.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

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

  • Track rod ends

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012, 2014 and 2019.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 2.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012, 2015 and 2017.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    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.

  • Number plates

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

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

Kia Optima MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2016 Kia Optima did best (81% passed first time, 6 points above all 2016 cars) and the 2019 did worst (81%, 3 points below all 2019 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202083%86% -3139 (small sample)
201981%84% -31,677
201883%81% +22,637
201781%78% +33,232
201681%75% +61,235
201573%72% +1590
201468%69% -1556
201368%66% +2314 (small sample)
201261%63% -2581

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Kia Optima

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 3.5× as often on the Kia Optima as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the track rod ends? (Flagged at MOT 2.9× as often on the Kia Optima as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the Kia Optima as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Kia Optima?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score