Kia Picanto 2016: reliability & common MOT faults
Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2016 Kia Picanto include Parking brake performance (rear) (~13.6× peers) and Parking brake performance (~13.6× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (3,077 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.
Common faults
These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).
Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.
Based on 3,077 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.
Parking brake performance (rear)
This failure pattern appears about 13.6× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 185 failed first-attempt tests; 6.0% of failed tests for this model year.
Rear · 185 failures · ×13.6 vs similar cars · 6.0% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
Parking brake performance
This failure pattern appears about 13.6× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 133 failed first-attempt tests; 4.3% of failed tests for this model year.
Any · 133 failures · ×13.6 vs similar cars · 4.3% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
Rbt (sp)
This failure pattern appears about 8.1× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 540 failed first-attempt tests; 17.5% of failed tests for this model year.
Any · 540 failures · ×8.1 vs similar cars · 17.5% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
| # | Fault pattern | Location | Failures | vs similar cars | Share of fails | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Parking brake performance (rear)
Brakes > Brake performance > Parking brake performance > Rbt > Parking brake performance
|
Rear | 185 | ×13.6 | 6.0% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 2 |
Parking brake performance
Brakes > Brake performance > Parking brake performance > Rbt > Parking brake performance
|
Any | 133 | ×13.6 | 4.3% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 3 |
Rbt (sp)
Brakes > Brake performance > Parking brake efficiency (sp) > Rbt (sp)
|
Any | 540 | ×8.1 | 17.5% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 4 |
Rigid brake pipes (rear)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
|
Rear | 93 | ×6.1 | 3.0% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 5 |
Ball joint (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Ball joint
|
Front | 365 | ×3.1 | 11.9% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 6 |
Service brake performance (rear)
Brakes > Brake performance > Service brake performance > Rbt > Service brake performance
|
Rear | 114 | ×2.2 | 3.7% | Possible elevated fault |
Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).
Wear patterns
These patterns look like wear or usage effects rather than model-specific design faults. Tyres, brake friction material, and alignment-related defects often track mileage and road use. They are not treated as a model design fault in our common-faults ranking.
| # | Pattern | Location | Failures | vs similar cars | Share of fails | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Brake discs (rear)
Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake discs and drums > Brake discs
|
Rear | 88 | ×2.2 | 2.9% | Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault |
Advisories
Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.
| # | Advisory pattern | Location | Notes | vs similar cars | Share | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Rigid brake pipes
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
|
Any | 89 | ×6.1 | 2.9% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 2 |
Rigid brake pipes (rear)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
|
Rear | 225 | ×5.5 | 7.3% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 3 |
Flexible brake hoses (front)
Brakes > Flexible brake hoses
|
Front | 33 | ×4.4 | 1.1% | Elevated vs peers |
| 4 |
Ball joint (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Ball joint
|
Front | 123 | ×3.7 | 4.0% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 5 |
Service brake performance (rear)
Brakes > Brake performance > Service brake performance > Plate brake tester > Service brake performance
|
Rear | 32 | ×3.5 | 1.0% | Elevated vs peers |
| 6 |
Seat belts — Condition (front)
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems > Seat belts > Condition
|
Front | 34 | ×3.4 | 1.1% | Elevated vs peers |
| 7 |
Service brake performance (rear)
Brakes > Brake performance > Service brake performance > Rbt > Service brake performance
|
Rear | 148 | ×3.3 | 4.8% | Possible elevated fault |
FAQs
About this data
Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.
PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.
Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).
Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.
Limitations.
- MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
- Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
- Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
- Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.
Display rules config: 1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.