Kia Rio (2009)
2009 Kia Rio
CarHunch analysed 7,590 real MOT records for the 2009 Kia Rio. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2009 Kia Rio passes its MOT first time in 75% of cases, which is 5 percentage points below the UK average—a modest but noticeable reliability gap. More concerning is that 48% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is significantly higher than typical and suggests structural or safety issues are common enough to worry about.
These Rios are running at a reasonable 53,822 miles median for their age, yet they're averaging 4.2 failures per test, indicating wear-related problems accumulate steadily. With nearly 24 advisories per vehicle on average, you should budget for regular maintenance and have any used example thoroughly inspected by a trusted mechanic before purchase, paying particular attention to suspension, braking, and structural components.
What to check before buying a 2009 Kia Rio
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.
- ⚠️ 48% 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 Rio
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (73%) | 5,549 | 75.4% | 4.17 |
| Diesel (27%) | 2,039 | 74.2% | 4.29 |
| Other (0%) | 1 | 85.7% | 1 |
| LPG (0%) | 1 | 66.7% | 6 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2009 Kia Rio 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 2009 Kia Rio vehicles fall between 38,334 and 70,010 miles.
2009 Kia Rio — Still on the Road
4,036 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 55% of the peak remain.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2009 Kia Rio
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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54.7%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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53.6%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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47.6%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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47.3%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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45.9%
Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened
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31%
Oil leak, but not excessive
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30.9%
Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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29.4%
Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2009. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Kia Rio?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.