2014 Kia RIO: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2014 Kia RIO?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2014 Kia RIO than on all cars registered in 2014.

• Ball joint dust cover4.2× usual
  Kia RIO

  7.5% All 2014 cars

  1.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 0.8% of all 2014 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.

• Track rod ends2.3× usual
  Kia RIO

  9.1% All 2014 cars

  3.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 2% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  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.

• Ball joint1.9× usual
  Kia RIO

  6.7% All 2014 cars

  3.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 2% of all 2014 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.

• Sub-frame2.7× usual
  Kia RIO

  4.3% All 2014 cars

  1.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.1% of all 2014 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.

• Side repeaters4.5× usual
  Kia RIO

  3.6% All 2014 cars

  0.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 0.5% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

Petrol or diesel: does it make a difference?

The same figures for each fuel on its own. Check which one the car you're looking at is: it's on the logbook and in its MOT history.

Common 2014 Kia RIO MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2014 Kia RIO MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• 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.

• Brakes
  31% 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
  29% 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
  21% 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.

• Exhaust and emissions
  5% 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.

Known faults on the 2014 Kia RIO

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Dashboard rattles

  All engines

  Dashboard rattles can be bad, and fixing them can mean taking the dashboard out.

  At the viewing: Drive on a rough road and listen.

  Source: Auto Express: used Kia Rio (Mk3, 2011-2016) review

• Stop-start, hill hold and ESP faults

  All engines

  The stop-start can work erratically, and some owners have had problems with hill hold and ESP.

  At the viewing: Watch stop-start at junctions, and check that hill hold holds on a slope.

  Source: Auto Express: used Kia Rio (Mk3, 2011-2016) review

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2014 Kia RIO

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

1. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 4.2× as often on the 2014 Kia RIO as on other cars the same age.)
2. Any recent work on the track rod ends? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2014 Kia RIO as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the 2014 Kia RIO as on other cars the same age.)
4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?