Does the Kia Soul fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The Kia Soul records 1.08 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 2.76 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−1.68, 95% interval −1.76 to −1.59). It ranks 512 of 678 models on noise, emissions and leaks (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on noise, emissions and leaks · check a Kia Soul by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Kia Soul is “Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction”, recorded 414 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 414 | 0.30 |
| Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 286 | 0.21 |
| Emissions test unable to be completed | 192 | 0.14 |
| Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limit | 175 | 0.13 |
| An induction or exhaust leak that could affect emissions levels | 94 | 0.07 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 137,660 (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 Soul gets a noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
2.4% of Kia Soul MOTs with a noise, emissions and leaks advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 6,576 miles later (3,099 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 3,099 (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 Soul 2009 · Kia Soul 2010 · Kia Soul 2011 · Kia Soul 2012 · Kia Soul 2013 · Kia Soul 2014 · Kia Soul 2015 · Kia Soul 2016 · Kia Soul 2017 · Kia Soul 2018 · Kia Soul 2019 · Kia Soul 2020 · Kia Soul in Norway · Kia Soul in Finland · Kia Soul in the Netherlands · Kia Soul by postcode area · Kia Soul body, chassis and structure failures · Kia Soul brakes failures · Kia Soul vehicle identification failures · Kia Soul lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Kia Soul road wheels failures · Kia Soul seat belts and airbags failures · Kia Soul steering failures · Kia Soul suspension failures · Kia Soul tyres failures · Kia Soul visibility failures