Family SUV · 2003–2021 cars
Kia Sorento reliability
The Kia Sorento fails 30.2% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage, based on 121,826 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Kia Sorento before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 30.2%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 2% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 121,826
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 9,300
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Kia Sorento ages
Each point is the share of Kia Sorentos of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Kia Sorento | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 13.9% | 12.3% |
| 4 | 15% | 14.1% |
| 5 | 16.7% | 16.4% |
| 6 | 18.8% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 20.7% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 25% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 29.8% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 34.6% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 39.6% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 41.3% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 42.7% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 44.1% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 48% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 46.7% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 48.1% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 48.9% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 50.5% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 53% | 42.8% |
By year
The best and worst Kia Sorento years
2015 cars come out best and 2020 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Sorento | 1,142 | 12.3% | 3% fewer fails | 30,025 |
| 2020 Sorento | 1,923 | 15.3% | 18% more fails | 31,772 |
| 2019 Sorento | 7,953 | 14.9% | 5% more fails | 35,856 |
| 2018 Sorento | 10,021 | 14.7% | 8% fewer fails | 42,392 |
| 2017 Sorento | 11,128 | 17.1% | 9% fewer fails | 51,611 |
| 2016 Sorento | 10,745 | 21.1% | 4% fewer fails | 60,827 |
| 2015 Sorento | 13,822 | 22.1% | 13% fewer fails | 69,813 |
| 2014 Sorento | 9,852 | 28.6% | 0% more fails | 76,990 |
| 2013 Sorento | 7,340 | 32.6% | 1% more fails | 87,535 |
| 2012 Sorento | 6,451 | 38.6% | 9% more fails | 96,955 |
| 2011 Sorento | 5,751 | 39.3% | 3% more fails | 101,907 |
| 2010 Sorento | 6,390 | 41.5% | 3% more fails | 107,512 |
| 2009 Sorento | 4,512 | 44.6% | 8% more fails | 100,910 |
| 2008 Sorento | 3,552 | 46.6% | 9% more fails | 104,959 |
| 2007 Sorento | 5,371 | 44.6% | 1% more fails | 109,300 |
| 2006 Sorento | 7,889 | 48.9% | 9% more fails | 114,533 |
| 2005 Sorento | 4,500 | 48.2% | 7% more fails | 115,306 |
| 2004 Sorento | 2,632 | 50.8% | 13% more fails | 116,374 |
| 2003 | 852 | 52.9% | 18% more fails | 120,120 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Kia Sorento
Its weak spot is steering: 135% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics10.7%10% below avg
- Brakes10.4%45% above avg
- Suspension10.2%7% above avg
- Tyres5.6%16% below avg
- Steering4.7%135% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure4%9% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.8%21% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags2.1%98% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.9%45% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Track rod end ball joint excessively worn 2.94% of tests
Worn steering ball joints can affect steering control and safety, so repair is needed before the car is driven.
- 2
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 2.74% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 3
Position lamp not working 2.39% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 4
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 2.25% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 5
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2.23% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 6
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.95% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 7
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 1.77% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 8
Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint worn 1.63% of tests
A worn linkage ball joint can rattle, affect handling and eventually fail, so it should be replaced.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Kia Sorento's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit15.51%
- Brake pads wearing thin10.94%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy7.02%
- Brake disc pitted or scored5.77%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking4.87%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive4.4%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Kia Sorento
- 1
Track rod end ball joint excessively worn
Worn steering ball joints can affect steering control and safety, so repair is needed before the car is driven.
- 2
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 3
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 4
Suspension ball joint excessively worn
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Kia Sorento covers about 9,300 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Diesel98%
- Hybrid1.4%
- Petrol0.6%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Silver, Black, Grey, White, Blue
Average engine size: 2.3 litres.
Compare
How the Kia Sorento compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Porsche Macan | 7.6% | 58% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Skoda Karoq | 9.6% | 30% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SEAT Ateca | 11% | 30% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Vauxhall Grandland | 13.6% | about average for its age |
| Kia Sorento | 30.2% | about average for its age |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | 32.5% | 4% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Peugeot 5008 | 33.1% | 38% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every family suv ranked in the family suv reliability index, or all Kia models.
Questions
Kia Sorento questions, answered
Is the Kia Sorento reliable?
On MOT results, the Kia Sorento is about average: it fails 30.2% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage. It ranks 43 of 59 family suv models in our index.
What fails most on a Kia Sorento MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Kia Sorento are track rod end ball joint excessively worn (2.94% of tests), brake pads worn below 1.5mm (2.74% of tests), position lamp not working (2.39% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 10.7% of its tests.
Which Kia Sorento year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2015 cars do best (13% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2020 cars do worst (18% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Kia Sorento do a year?
A typical Kia Sorento covers about 9,300 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Kia Sorento before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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