Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2011 Kia Soul?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2011 Kia Soul?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2011 Kia Soul?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2011 Kia Soul vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

52% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2011 Kia Soul reliable?

Based on MOT data from 3,881 vehicles, the 2011 Kia Soul has a first-time MOT pass rate of 77.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2011 Kia Soul?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2011 Kia Soul are: Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (57.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (54.5% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (54% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2011 Kia Soul?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Kia Soul (2011)

3,881 real MOT outcomes analysed • 77.1% first-time pass rate

2011 Kia Soul

CarHunch analysed 3,881 real MOT records for the 2011 Kia Soul. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2011 Kia Soul falls slightly below the UK average with a 77.1% first-time pass rate, and this is a real concern: over half of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above typical levels. Petrol versions fare marginally better at 78.5% versus diesel at 76.8%, but neither inspires confidence.

These cars are averaging just over 61,000 miles at test time, which is reasonable for their age, yet they're racking up an average of 3.61 failures and 19.5 advisories per MOT—suggesting wear and maintenance issues are piling up. Before buying one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focused on the brake system and suspension, as dangerous defects cluster heavily in those areas on this generation.

The 2011 Kia Soul has a decent first-time pass rate (77.1%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

77.1%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

51.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.61

Over 14.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

61k

Middle half: 46k–76k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 19.5 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 3,881 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 3,881 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 57.9%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 54.5%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 41.6%

Oil leak, but not excessive

Suspension & steering 27.6%

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play · Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2011.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 3,881 Kia Soul cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.7 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

78.5%

Petrol

744 vehicles

76.8%

Diesel

3,136 vehicles

Before you buy a 2011 Kia Soul

Based on MOT data from 3,881 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 51.6% 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 →
📄 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 Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (81%)	3,136	76.8%	3.67
Petrol (19%)	744	78.5%	3.38

Colour Breakdown

Based on 25,023 Kia Soul vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 33.2%

8,297

Black 19%

4,750

White 16.2%

4,047

Red 12.5%

3,136

Blue 9.9%

2,466

Cream 4.2%

1,048

Green 2%

496

Orange 1.2%

291

Brown 0.8%

204

Yellow 0.8%

198

Grey 0.3%

Multi-colour 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2011 Kia Soul 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.

61,024

typical

46,396

low mileage

76,420

high mileage

Half of all 2011 Kia Soul vehicles fall between 46,396 and 76,420 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 46,396 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.

✓ 46,396–76,420 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2011 Kia Souls sit.

⚠ Over 103,167 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2011 Kia Soul — Still on the Road

Most 2011 Kia Souls are still being driven.

Strong survival — 3,061 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 81% of the peak.

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

14.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.61

Avg failures per vehicle

19.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Kia Soul: All Soul years → Which year to buy? →

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Or browse all models: Kia →

Compare with another model

See how the 2011 Kia Soul stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing