Kia Sportage Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Kia Sportage car check
Is the Kia Sportage reliable? We analysed 2,634,551 real MOT tests across 296,598 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Kia Sportage? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Kia Sportage is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Kia Sportage.
Kia Sportage Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Kia Sportage. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Kia Sportage MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Kia Sportage to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Kia Sportage Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Kia Sportage fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Kia Sportage Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Kia Sportage models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Kia Sportage Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Kia Sportage owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Kia Sportage MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Kia Sportage year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 5,977 | 87.7% | 21,828 | 29,774 | 38,871 |
| 2021 | 46,032 | 86.8% | 20,005 | 27,927 | 37,927 |
| 2020 | 48,069 | 86.2% | 20,594 | 29,358 | 40,321 |
| 2019 | 162,956 | 86.4% | 23,239 | 33,683 | 46,836 |
| 2018 | 211,253 | 86.3% | 26,574 | 38,773 | 53,963 |
| 2017 | 284,922 | 85.6% | 30,816 | 44,910 | 62,525 |
| 2016 | 327,413 | 83.6% | 33,854 | 49,270 | 68,314 |
| 2015 | 216,325 | 81.4% | 36,194 | 53,274 | 73,827 |
| 2014 | 225,225 | 81.3% | 39,271 | 58,618 | 81,311 |
| 2013 | 246,463 | 78.4% | 42,657 | 64,196 | 88,072 |
| 2012 | 196,657 | 76.9% | 45,407 | 68,910 | 94,567 |
| 2011 | 129,482 | 77.8% | 48,426 | 74,137 | 101,087 |
| 2010 | 84,829 | 76.7% | 45,211 | 70,328 | 96,623 |
| 2009 | 61,507 | 75.0% | 45,450 | 70,126 | 95,893 |
| 2008 | 50,378 | 75.2% | 47,360 | 73,016 | 99,778 |
| 2007 | 62,215 | 72.6% | 49,738 | 75,815 | 103,026 |
| 2006 | 70,704 | 71.4% | 51,416 | 78,394 | 106,160 |
| 2005 | 84,469 | 70.8% | 50,003 | 76,382 | 103,620 |
| 2004 | 770 | 72.2% | 41,140 | 66,706 | 91,173 |
| 2003 | 20,618 | 69.4% | 38,573 | 56,641 | 76,253 |
How Long Does a Kia Sportage Last?
Based on 296,598 Kia Sportage vehicles on UK roads.
Kia Sportage Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Kia Sportage MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Kia Sportage
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
87.7% MOT pass rate from 5,977 tests
60.8% MOT pass rate from 2,529 tests
The best year to buy a used Kia Sportage is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.7% across 5,977 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 60.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Kia Sportage Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Sportage THIS CAR | 80.4% | 2,634,551 | 53,679 mi | 26 yrs |
| Kia Picanto | 77.1% | 2,626,043 | 39,084 mi | 22 yrs |
| Kia Ceed | 76.1% | 1,665,385 | 60,630 mi | 19 yrs |
| Kia Rio | 76.2% | 1,637,344 | 49,830 mi | 25 yrs |
| Mitsubishi Colt | 72.5% | 950,325 | 59,666 mi | 30 yrs |
Compared to the Kia Picanto (77.1% pass rate) and the Kia Ceed (76.1% pass rate), the Kia Sportage outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Kia Sportage you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Kia SportageShould you buy a used Kia Sportage?
The Kia Sportage has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.4% across 2,634,551 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Kia Sportage are brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (16,003 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (15,822), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (14,522). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Kia Sportage with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Kia Sportage owner drives around 7,022 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Kia Sportage models stay on UK roads for around 26 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.