Pass rate, every year
75.0% Around average
907 tests across 10 model years, 2001–2010.
−6.0 pts vs the national average
Perodua Kenari MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics
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Best year to buy
2010 81.6%
The strongest of the 10 years on record. See the 2010 page →
Worst year to buy
2001 66.2%
15.4 points below the 2010 peak. See the 2001 page →
The Perodua Kenari MOT pass rate is 75.0%, −6.0 percentage points below the UK average. That is 907 DVSA MOT tests recorded between 2001 and 2010. This page lists the most common Perodua Kenari MOT failures by category, names the best and worst model years, and finishes with a pre-MOT checklist you can run at home.
Perodua Kenari MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average
The Perodua Kenari passed on its first attempt in 69.3%, and its overall record sits −6.0 percentage points below the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Perodua Kenari in the 2023–2025 data: 907 tests across 10 model years (2001–2010). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.
| Measure | This model |
|---|---|
| Tests analysed | 907 |
| Overall pass rate | 75.0% |
| Passed on first attempt | 69.3% |
| Average mileage at test | 50,174 mi |
| Model years covered | 2001–2010 (10 years) |
| Versus UK national average | −6.0 pts below |
Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.
Most Common Perodua Kenari MOT Problems by Failure Category
Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Perodua Kenari, the Suspension section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.
| Inspection section | Share of failures |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 25% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 16% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 15% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 14% |
| Visibility | 13% |
| Brakes | 7% |
| Steering | 5% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 3% |
Shares are over the Perodua Kenari's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.
Suspension
Around 25% of the recorded Perodua Kenari failures fall in the Suspension section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (10.0%), "Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength" (3.3%), "Ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt" (0.2%) among the Perodua Kenari's suspension faults.
Noise, emissions and leaks
Around 16% of the recorded Perodua Kenari failures fall in the Noise, emissions and leaks section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Catalyst emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits" (4.7%), "Malfunction indicator lamp inoperative or indicates a malfunction" (2.2%), "Emissions not tested unable to be completed" (1.7%) among the Perodua Kenari's noise, emissions and leaks faults.
Body, chassis, structure
Around 15% of the recorded Perodua Kenari failures fall in the Body, chassis, structure section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Exhaust system has a major leak of exhaust gases" (5.0%), "Joints constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt" (1.4%), "Joints constant velocity boot severely deteriorated" (1.4%) among the Perodua Kenari's body, chassis, structure faults.
Top Recorded Perodua Kenari DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions
The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Perodua Kenari, each with how many of the model's 907 tests it was noted on.
- "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (Minor) — noted on about 91 Perodua Kenari tests, 10.0% of the model's MOT record.
- "Exhaust system has a major leak of exhaust gases" (Major) — noted on about 45 Perodua Kenari tests, 5.0% of the model's MOT record.
- "Catalyst emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits" (Major) — noted on about 43 Perodua Kenari tests, 4.7% of the model's MOT record.
- "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (Minor) — noted on about 40 Perodua Kenari tests, 4.4% of the model's MOT record.
- "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (Minor) — noted on about 37 Perodua Kenari tests, 4.1% of the model's MOT record.
- "Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength" (Major) — noted on about 30 Perodua Kenari tests, 3.3% of the model's MOT record.
Best and Worst Perodua Kenari Model Years by Pass Rate
The strongest Perodua Kenari model year on record is 2010 (81.6% across 87 tests), and the weakest is 2001 (66.2%). The gap between them is 15.4 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.
Perodua Kenari reliability is improving in the DVSA data — the pass rate moves about 0.9 points a year across the most recent model years shown above.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 Kenari | 87 | 81.6% |
| 2009 Kenari | 74 | 79.7% |
| 2008 Kenari | 102 | 76.5% |
| 2007 Kenari | 89 | 76.4% |
| 2006 Kenari | 109 | 75.2% |
| 2005 Kenari | 105 | 78.1% |
| 2004 Kenari | 116 | 69.0% |
| 2003 Kenari | 86 | 72.1% |
| 2002 Kenari | 68 | 75.0% |
| 2001 Kenari | 71 | 66.2% |
Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.
Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Perodua Kenari Owners
These checks follow this Perodua Kenari's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Perodua Kenari.
-
the suspension joints — “ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated”
With the car parked on level ground, rock the top of each front wheel in and out while someone watches the suspension arm. Clunks, or rubber boots split and greasy, are what testers record here.
-
the exhaust and emissions — “exhaust system has a major leak of exhaust gases”
Listen for a blow at idle and have someone rev it gently. Then look at the tailpipe smoke: blue is oil, white when warm is coolant, black is over-fuelling. Any of those and the emissions test is the least of it.
-
the lights — “registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”
Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.
Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Perodua Kenari. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions: Perodua Kenari MOT & Reliability
What is the Perodua Kenari MOT pass rate?
75.0% of the 907 recorded Perodua Kenari MOT tests ended in a pass, −6.0 percentage points below the national average. 69.3% of those passed on the first attempt.
Which Perodua Kenari model years pass the MOT most often?
2010 is the strongest Perodua Kenari year on record at 81.6%, while 2001 is the weakest at 66.2%. The year-by-year table below lists every model year with at least 50 recorded tests.
What are the most common Perodua Kenari MOT failures?
The most recorded Perodua Kenari failures are "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" and "Exhaust system has a major leak of exhaust gases" — together around 15% of tests, mostly in the Suspension section.