2021 KIA Niro 3 EV Electricity · KY21 VOP

The 2021 KIA NIRO 3 EV currently holds a clean MOT certificate issued on 11 May 2026 at 47,150 miles, with zero defects recorded. The maintenance trend over the past two years is broadly stable, though the failed test on 1 May 2026 at 47,135 miles reveals a brief but notable lapse in basic pre-test preparation. That failure flagged a cut offside rear seat belt webbing exceeding 2mm from the edge and cuts to the ply or cords on both the nearside front and nearside rear tyre sidewalls. These were rectified before the retest ten days later, suggesting the issues were addressed promptly rather than ignored. The record implies the vehicle was not presented in a roadworthy state initially, which warrants closer scrutiny of how the car has been stored and maintained between uses. The mileage progression sits at roughly 9,430 miles per year, which is typical for a five-year-old vehicle and indicates consistent rather than light use. The gap between the April 2025 test at 34,891 miles and the May 2026 tests at approximately 47,150 miles represents around 12,250 miles covered in just over twelve months, a noticeable uptick compared to the earlier pattern of roughly 9,770 miles per year between April 2024 and April 2025. No significant gaps or anomalies appear in the record, and the annual testing pattern has been maintained without interruption. The recurring tyre sidewall damage flagged in the May 2026 failure points to a pattern worth investigating in person. Cuts deep enough to expose ply or cords on two separate tyres at the same test suggest possible kerb contact, poor parking habits, or prolonged periods of standing that may have led to sidewall degradation. A buyer should inspect all four tyres carefully for uneven wear, sidewall blistering, and tread depth consistency. The seat belt webbing fault on the offside rear is less common and should be checked for fraying, slow retraction, or water ingress that could indicate a door or sunroof drain issue. Given the electric drivetrain, the brake system deserves particular attention; EVs often experience uneven brake disc corrosion and caliper drag due to regenerative braking reducing friction brake use. Inspect the discs for surface corrosion and check that all calipers retract freely. The underbody and suspension mounting points should also be examined for corrosion, as the Niro platform has shown susceptibility to surface rust on subframes and suspension arms in wet UK conditions, even at this relatively low mileage.