2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 Kia Sorento MOT pass rate and common faults

1,861 MOT tests in 2024. 59.2% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

92Below average
Passed first time59.2%
Failed or needed repairs40.8%
Typical mileage at test102,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,861 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn6.2%
  2. Position lamp: not working4.7%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.9%
    109 marked dangerous
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.9%
    88 marked dangerous
  5. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.7%
  6. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.5%
  7. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault3.4%
  8. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.2%
  9. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.8%
  10. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn2.8%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension22.0%
  2. Brakes19.7%
  3. Lights & electrics19.6%
  4. Tyres8.8%
  5. Steering5.6%
  6. Body & chassis5.4%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.6%
  8. Seat belts & airbags4.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm23.6%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn13.8%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick12.0%
  4. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded10.9%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.5%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Kia Sorento?

In 2024, 59.2% of 2012 Kia Sorento cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,861 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Kia Sorento?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; position lamp: not working; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2012 Kia Sorento reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 92, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).