Kia

Kia Ceed (2008)

9,777 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.8% first-time pass rate

2008 Kia Ceed

CarHunch analysed 9,777 real MOT records for the 2008 Kia Ceed. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2008 Kia Ceed has a 73.8% first-time pass rate, which trails the UK average of 80% by a meaningful margin, and over half of these vehicles (50.8%) have recorded at least one dangerous defect during their MOT history—a genuine concern for any buyer. Petrol and diesel variants perform nearly identically, both sitting around 73–74% pass rate, so fuel type won't be your differentiator here.

At nearly 72,000 miles on average, these cars have been driven hard for their age, yet they still accumulate 4.5 failures and 28 advisories per test on average, suggesting recurring wear-and-tear issues rather than catastrophic problems. Before buying one, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, brakes, and structural corrosion—the high advisory count points to these as chronic weak spots on the model.

The 2008 Kia Ceed has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.8% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.
First-time pass
73.8%
UK average ~80%
Below average
Dangerous (ever)
50.9%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
4.47
Over 16.1 tests on record
High
Typical mileage
64k
Middle half: 49k–78k
For context
⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 27.7 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.
🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 9,777 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 9,777 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 60.2%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake lever has little reserve travel · …
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Tyre wear 60%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Suspension & steering 32.9%
Offside Rear Coil spring corroded · Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded
Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.
Other issues 29.5%
Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened · Nearside Front Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 9,777 Kia Ceed cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2008 Kia Ceed

Based on MOT data from 9,777 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 50.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
    Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
  • 🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection ClickMechanic
  • 📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (50%) 4,918 74.1% 4.58
Diesel (50%) 4,858 73.5% 4.37

Colour Breakdown

Based on 144,570 Kia Ceed vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 29.4%
42,549
Black 20.6%
29,801
White 14.5%
20,971
Red 13.9%
20,044
Blue 11.1%
16,117
Grey 7.6%
11,007
Bronze 1.8%
2,635
Brown 0.4%
535
Yellow 0.4%
531
Orange 0.2%
341
Beige 0%
25
Gold 0%
14

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Kia Ceed vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

63,904
typical
49,026
low mileage
78,312
high mileage

Half of all 2008 Kia Ceed vehicles fall between 49,026 and 78,312 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 49,026 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.
49,026–78,312 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Kia Ceeds sit.
Over 105,721 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Kia Ceed — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 39% of 2008 Kia Ceeds are still active.

Numbers are declining — 3,563 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (39% of peak).

9,180 3,563 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

16.1
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
4.47
Avg failures per vehicle
27.7
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Kia Ceed: All Ceed years → Which year to buy? →
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Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on