Does the Kia Rio fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Kia Rio records 15.24 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 13.77 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+1.47, 95% interval +1.37 to +1.57). It ranks 231 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Kia Rio by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Kia Rio is “A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”, recorded 21,493 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 21,493 | 3.75 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 12,786 | 2.23 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 7,160 | 1.25 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 5,901 | 1.03 |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 5,757 | 1.01 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 572,396 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Kia Rio gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
27.0% of Kia Rio MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 5,598 miles later (5,546 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 5,546 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Kia Rio 2002 · Kia Rio 2003 · Kia Rio 2004 · Kia Rio 2005 · Kia Rio 2006 · Kia Rio 2007 · Kia Rio 2008 · Kia Rio 2009 · Kia Rio 2010 · Kia Rio 2011 · Kia Rio 2012 · Kia Rio 2013 · Kia Rio 2014 · Kia Rio 2015 · Kia Rio 2016 · Kia Rio 2017 · Kia Rio 2018 · Kia Rio 2019 · Kia Rio 2020 · Kia Rio in Norway · Kia Rio in Finland · Kia Rio in the Netherlands · Kia Rio by postcode area · Kia Rio body, chassis and structure failures · Kia Rio brakes failures · Kia Rio vehicle identification failures · Kia Rio noise, emissions and leaks failures · Kia Rio road wheels failures · Kia Rio seat belts and airbags failures · Kia Rio steering failures · Kia Rio suspension failures · Kia Rio tyres failures · Kia Rio visibility failures