Kia Venga (2011)

4,792 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76% first-time pass rate

2011 Kia Venga

CarHunch analysed 4,792 real MOT records for the 2011 Kia Venga. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2011 Kia Venga's 76% first-time pass rate sits below the UK average of 80%, suggesting this generation has moderate reliability concerns—but the real red flag is that over half (50.9%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, making safety history worth checking carefully before purchase. Diesel versions are noticeably weaker, passing only 73% of the time versus 78% for petrol, so fuel type matters here.

At 46,099 miles median, these cars are typical for their age, but the average of 3.86 failures per test and 20.3 advisories per vehicle indicates recurring problems beyond just wear-and-tear items. Before buying, obtain the full MOT history and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on any previous dangerous defect flags—this model needs closer scrutiny than the average 13-year-old hatchback.

Below average reliability 4% below UK average
76%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
46,099
typical mileage
34,888–60,101 middle half
50.9%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
3.86
avg MOT failures per car
over 15.2 tests on record

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 5 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

78%
Petrol
2,896 vehicles
73%
Diesel
1,896 vehicles

What to check before buying a 2011 Kia Venga

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.
  • ⚠️ 50.9% 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 Venga

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 (60%) 2,896 78% 3.51
Diesel (40%) 1,896 73% 4.39

Mileage Distribution

Most 2011 Kia Venga 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.

34,888
low mileage
46,099
typical
60,101
high mileage

Half of all 2011 Kia Venga vehicles fall between 34,888 and 60,101 miles.

2011 Kia Venga — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 3,889 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 83% of the peak.

4,698 3,889 2014 2025

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

15.2
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
3.86
Avg failures per vehicle
20.3
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2011 Kia Venga

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 50.4%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 49.7%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 39.9%
    Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 38.5%
    Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 35.3%
    Oil leak, but not excessive
  • 32.5%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 30.6%
    Offside Rear Coil spring corroded
  • 30.3%
    Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2011. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Kia Venga?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Kia Venga:

2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019