KIA CARENS Common Problems & Reliability

Based on 546 MOT tests from 47 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®. The figures below describe that VehicleScore® sample. Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are not a claim that every KIA CARENS has the same fault.

KIA CARENS's have a slightly over average reliability rating of 508/999. The score was calculated from the average of every KIA CARENS that has had a registered MOT.

We calculated all of the below figures by getting the score from each vehicle make/model/year/fuel, which are each calculated a score. We then generate the average score, taking into account factors such as mileage and emissions.

Also check BHP & performance, road tax, fuel economy, and CO2 emissions for the KIA CARENS.

KIA CARENS (example)

Check the reliability of your Kia Carens

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Fuel Type	Year	Reliability Score	Avg Mileage	Sample Size
Diesel	2018	652/999Good	93,049 miles	868 vehicles
Diesel	2017	607/999Good	93,150 miles	1,256 vehicles
Diesel	2014	566/999Above average	99,790 miles	1,362 vehicles
Diesel	2009	410/999Average	91,359 miles	647 vehicles
Diesel	2004	383/999Fair	90,902 miles	804 vehicles
Petrol	2002	430/999Average	73,949 miles	529 vehicles

How reliable is the KIA CARENS?

Based on 546 MOT tests from 47 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®.

Vehicles

MOT tests

546

Pass rate

79.1%

Median mileage

86,775 mi

Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are inspection findings from this sample. They are not a statement that every KIA CARENS has the same fault. The median VehicleScore® in this sample is 687 out of 999.

Common KIA CARENS MOT problems

These groups combine equivalent MOT comments, such as the same tyre note on different corners. Counts are comment occurrences in the sample, not a percentage of cars.

Tyre wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 83 advisory comments and 10 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record tyres that were worn, damaged, or close to the legal tread depth when the car was inspected.

What to inspect

Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT TYRE WORN CLOSE TO LEGAL LIMIT/WORN ON EDGE (5.2.3 (E))

Brake disc wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 44 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake discs that were worn, scored, pitted, or corroded.

What to inspect

Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.

Example MOT wording: FRONT BRAKE DISC WORN, PITTED OR SCORED, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (1.1.14 (A) (II))

Brake pad wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 26 advisory comments and 6 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake pads that were worn or below the inspection limit.

What to inspect

Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.

Example MOT wording: FRONT BRAKE PAD(S) WEARING THIN (1.1.13 (A) (II))

Oil leak

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 15 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record an oil leak noted by the tester. Shock absorber misting is counted as a damper issue, not as an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.

Example MOT wording: OIL LEAK, BUT NOT EXCESSIVE (8.4.1 (A) (I))

Parking brake faults

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 9 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a parking brake that did not hold well enough or had a component defect.

What to inspect

Test that the parking brake holds the car on a slope and releases cleanly.

Example MOT wording: PARKING BRAKE EFFICIENCY BELOW REQUIREMENTS (1.4.2 (A) (I))

Shock absorber issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 9 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record shock absorbers or dampers that were leaking, misting, or insecure. A light misting of oil on a damper is not an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look for oil misting on the damper body and listen for knocks over bumps.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS HAS A SERIOUS FLUID LEAK (5.3.2 (B))

Emissions test issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 4 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record an exhaust emissions result. They are counted separately from a warning lamp or a catalytic converter note.

What to inspect

Ask for the emissions printout and whether any repair followed a failed test.

Example MOT wording: EMISSIONS UNABLE TO BE COMPLETED (8.2.1.2 (D))

Ball joint wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 3 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a worn or damaged ball joint. Track rod ends are counted with steering, not here.

What to inspect

Ask for the joint to be checked for play with the suspension loaded and unloaded.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE FRONT LOWER SUSPENSION ARM BALL JOINT EXCESSIVELY WORN (5.3.4 (A) (I))

KIA CARENS MOT reliability by year

A model year is only commented on when VehicleScore® has at least 5 vehicles from that year.

Year	Vehicles	MOT tests	Pass rate	Recurring issues seen
2018	7	53	79.2%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2016	12	114	80.7%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2015	5	55	80%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2014	7	79	86.1%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2013	5	67	77.6%	Corrosion, Oil leak

What to check when buying a used KIA CARENS

This is an inspection checklist based on MOT comments in the VehicleScore® sample. It does not mean the car you are looking at has these defects.

Tyre wear. Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.
Brake disc wear. Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.
Brake pad wear. Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.
Oil leak. Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.
Parking brake faults. Test that the parking brake holds the car on a slope and releases cleanly.
Shock absorber issues. Look for oil misting on the damper body and listen for knocks over bumps.
Emissions test issues. Ask for the emissions printout and whether any repair followed a failed test.
Ball joint wear. Ask for the joint to be checked for play with the suspension loaded and unloaded.

Buying a KIA CARENS?

Common problems tell you what can affect KIA CARENSs generally. VehicleScore® can check the history of the actual car you're considering.

Where does this data come from?

VehicleScore® analyses MOT histories from vehicles in its own dataset. Sample sizes vary by model, and a small sample is labelled as such. MOT data records roadworthiness and inspection defects. It does not capture every mechanical or electronic problem a car can have, and a comment on one test is not proof that the model has an inherent fault.

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