Skip to main content
Check
Kia

Kia Sorento reliability by build year

Coverage 2003-present6 named generationsSUVDIESEL / HYBRID ELECTRIC
At a glance

Kia Sorento built around 2018: about average at the MOT

Kia Sorentos built around 2018 fail their MOT about as often as similar cars the same age.

Check a Kia Sorento by number plate

Key figure

16% of MOT tests on Kia Sorentos built around 2018 ended in a fail (retests included), against 16% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Kia Sorentos built around 2018 involves the tyres.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

The Kia Sorento's most common MOT issues, turned into things to ask about or look for.

Brake pads

High priority

Ask when the pads were last replaced and check the warning-light history.

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

By build year

How build years differ

Fail rates have been steady over the last three years. Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find your Sorento's generation

Each card below is a different generation. Select your year and we'll highlight the match.

Sorento Mk4 (MQ4)

Mk4 (MQ4) (2021-present)

Average
DIESELHYBRID ELECTRIC

11.8% fail rate, built around 2021 (4 years old)

Fails about as often as the average car this age (about 1 in 9 MOTs, 11.4%)

From 1,735 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Sorento Mk3 (UM)

Mk3 (UM) (2015-2020)

Too close to call between ratings
DIESELHYBRID ELECTRIC

15.8% fail rate, built around 2018 (7 years old)

Fails about as often as the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

From 3,314 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Sorento Mk2 (XM)

Mk2 (XM) (2010-2014)

Poor
DIESEL

32.5% fail rate, built around 2013 (12 years old)

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 1 in 4 MOTs, 26.3%)

From 1,048 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Sorento Mk1 (BL)

Mk1 (BL) (2003-2009)

Not enough tests to rate
DIESEL

35.5% fail rate, built around 2006 (19 years old)

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 3 in 10 MOTs, 31.4%)

From 1,341 MOT tests at this ageView details →

Not sure which one you're looking at?

Match your build year to its generation, then see the fail rates for those build years of the Kia Sorento.

See every build year for the Kia Sorento

Side-by-side

Kia Sorento generations compared

Each generation is shown at 7 years old if it has at least 100 MOT tests at that age. If not, or if its cars are too new to be 7, it's shown at another age. We try ages close to 7 first. Newer generations have fewer years of data.

GenerationRatingFail rate
Mk4 (MQ4) (2021-present)
Average
Average11.8%built around 2021 (4 years old)from 1,735 MOT tests at this age
Mk3 (UM) (2015-2020)
No ratingToo close to call between ratings
No ratingToo close to call between ratings15.8%built around 2018 (7 years old)from 3,314 MOT tests at this age
Mk2 (XM) (2010-2014)
Poor
Poor32.5%built around 2013 (12 years old)from 1,048 MOT tests at this age
Mk1 (BL) (2003-2009)
No ratingNot enough tests to rate
No ratingNot enough tests to rate35.5%built around 2006 (19 years old)from 1,341 MOT tests at this age

Each row is one generation of the Sorento, shown at the age printed under its fail rate. So rows can be different ages. Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail, retests included. A rating is given only when there are enough tests to place the fail rate in one rating band with 95% confidence.

By age

Kia Sorento fail rate by age

This chart combines every Kia Sorento ever sold. It's good for the big picture. For one generation, scroll up to the build-year cards.

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rate
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
2,73711.5%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
2,24611.8%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
2,08115.9%
6 yearsbuilt around 2019
3,16514.9%
7 yearsbuilt around 2018
3,31415.8%
8 yearsbuilt around 2017
4,02618.8%
9 yearsbuilt around 2016
4,38921.3%
10 yearsbuilt around 2015
4,56723.1%
11 yearsbuilt around 2014
3,29325.9%
12 yearsbuilt around 2013
2,63329.8%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
2,35430.7%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
2,27731.2%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
1,79730.4%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
1,13933.0%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
1,25034.7%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
1,31133.6%
19 yearsbuilt around 2006
1,34135.5%
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
57536.9%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
29732.3%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
5429.6%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 20 years old.

Where it ranks

Where the Kia Sorento stacks up

Three ways to compare the same cars, built around 2018 (7 years old). The fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests, and 1st has the lowest fail rate. Only models with at least 500 MOT tests at this age are ranked. How we count fail rates

Against other Kia models

9th of 12

9th lowest fail rate of 12 Kia models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

Close to the middle third

Against other SUVs

58th of 89

58th lowest fail rate of 89 SUVs with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

In the middle third

Against the UK average

15.8%

The share of this model's MOT tests at this age that ended in a fail.

Fails about as often as the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 7-year-old Kia Sorentos

These issues come from 7-year-old Kia Sorentos, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelEnough data

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    20.8%
    Advisory: 1,062Fail: 59 (5% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Brake pads wearing thin

    15.9%
    Advisory: 575Fail: 114 (17% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    9.7%
    Advisory: 410Fail: 88 (18% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

    7.0%
    Advisory: 331Fail: 2 (1% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    6.8%
    Advisory: 260Fail: 50 (16% of the times it was found)

Based on 3,314 MOT tests on 7-year-old Kia Sorentos, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 7-year-old Kia Sorentos notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelEnough data
  1. Brakes + Tyres36%
  2. Suspension + Tyres22%
  3. Brakes + Suspension22%
  4. Brakes + Other16%

Both were noted at the same test. That doesn't mean one caused the other.

Across 970 MOT tests on Kia Sorento cars built around 2018 (7 years old) where more than one part of the car was noted.

Still registered

How many are still registered, and recalls

How many of these are still registered in the UK, and what's been recalled across the model.

How many are still registered

94%of this model's cars first registered in 2014 to 2015 were still registered 10 years later

UK average for cars first registered in 2014 to 2015: 92% · About typical

The share still registered can reflect demand, the cost of repairs, exports, write-offs and how owners use the car. It isn't proof of how long the car lasts mechanically.

Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0124).

Recall context

25 recalls in all

22 of the 25 Kia Sorento recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 5 Critical
  • 17 more

Top concerns

  • The PTC (positive temperature coefficient) heater in some Sorento (XM) models can overheat due to potential damage of th
  • Rubber diesel fuel feed pipe may harden or crack
  • Risk of fire

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

Like-for-like

Other SUVs to compare

Other SUVs to compare

  1. 1

    Volkswagen T-Roc

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    9.6%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    0.9%
    Dangerous
    3.9%

    Lower fail rate: 9.6%, against 15.8% for the Kia Sorento, both built around 2018.

    9,233 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  2. 2

    Lexus RX

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    7.6%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.3%
    Dangerous
    2.9%
    Still registered at 10 years
    90.4%

    Lower fail rate: 7.6%, against 15.8% for the Kia Sorento, both built around 2018.

    1,815 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  3. 3

    Skoda Karoq

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    10.3%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1%
    Dangerous
    4.3%

    Lower fail rate: 10.3%, against 15.8% for the Kia Sorento, both built around 2018.

    8,610 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  4. 4

    Lexus NX

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    9.5%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1%
    Dangerous
    2.7%
    Still registered at 10 years
    88.4%

    Lower fail rate: 9.5%, against 15.8% for the Kia Sorento, both built around 2018.

    4,706 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2018 (7 years old), the Kia Sorento across all generations combined fails MOTs at about the rate typical for this age. It has the 9th lowest fail rate of 12 Kia models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age. This is based on 3,314 7-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every Kia Sorento ever sold: 44,846 tests. The main figures are for cars built around 2018 (7 years old): 3,314 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.