2014 KIA RIO 1.2L Petrol · SM14 FKS

The 2014 Kia Rio passed its most recent MOT on 22 May 2026 at 89,285 miles, but only after a same-day failure exposed serious front-end neglect. The maintenance trend has shifted from stable to worsening. In the 2023, 2024, and 2025 tests the car recorded clean passes at 66,046, 74,298, and 80,319 miles respectively, yet the May 2026 failure at 89,283 miles flagged an exposed offside front tyre ply, a nearside front tyre below 1.6mm, excessive wear in the nearside suspension arm ball joint, play in the steering rack inner joint, and non-working washer and wiper. The owner corrected the washers, wiper, and tyres and the car passed hours later, but the steering and suspension faults carried as an advisory. The recorded mileage shows light, consistent use across the period. The car covered roughly 8,000 miles between May 2023 and May 2024, then about 6,000 miles per year through to 2026, sitting at 89,285 miles for a twelve-year-old vehicle. No rapid accumulation or unexplained gaps appear in the record. The three prior clean tests suggest the earlier keeper maintained the car to a reasonable standard before the abrupt deterioration seen in 2026. A buyer should inspect the nearside steering rack inner joint and front suspension arm ball joint in person, as the tester confirmed play and excessive wear that remain live advisories. The exposed tyre cord and bald nearside front tyre at the failure point indicate basic consumable checks were skipped in the run-up to the test. Verify the May 2026 rectification work used correct tyre sizes and that the washer and wiper systems function without intermittent failure. Given the clean history before 2026, the sudden cluster of front-end faults points to deferred upkeep rather than inherent structural rot. Examine subframes and coil springs for corrosion, and confirm the steering rack does not require full replacement rather than joint-only repair.