Kia Picanto (2016)
2016 Kia Picanto
CarHunch analysed 12,743 real MOT records for the 2016 Kia Picanto. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2016 Kia Picanto passes its MOT first time at 85.1%, which is a solid 5 percentage points above the UK average—but the headline concern is that 30.2% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above the typical threshold. This suggests buyers should budget for potential safety-critical repairs, particularly as the fleet ages.
At nearly 32,000 miles on average, these Picantos are running light for their age, which is encouraging for wear and tear, though the 8 advisories per vehicle indicate routine maintenance items are mounting up. When one fails an MOT, it tends to need 1.36 fixes on average—not severe—so plan for moderate repair costs rather than major work, and ask the seller for the full service history before committing.
What to check before buying a 2016 Kia Picanto
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 30.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Kia Picanto
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Mileage Distribution
Most 2016 Kia Picanto vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2016 Kia Picanto vehicles fall between 19,452 and 40,216 miles.
2016 Kia Picanto — Still on the Road
Strong survival — 12,163 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 98% of the peak.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2016 Kia Picanto
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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37.2%
Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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36%
Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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29.9%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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29.7%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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21.1%
Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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19.9%
Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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19.6%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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12.6%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Kia Picanto?
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