Skip to main content
Check
Kia

Kia Sportage reliability by build year

Coverage 2005-present4 named generationsfamily SUVSUVPETROL / DIESEL / HYBRID ELECTRIC
At a glance

Kia Sportage built around 2018: more dangerous faults than average

Testers find a dangerous fault on Kia Sportages built around 2018 more often than on similar cars the same age. Look closely at the tyres on any car you view.

Check a Kia Sportage by number plate

Key figure

7% of MOT tests on Kia Sportages built around 2018 found a fault the tester marked as dangerous, against 5% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

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

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

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

Independent inspection

High priority

Have an independent specialist inspect the car before you commit.

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 Sportage's generation

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

Sportage Mk5 (NQ5)

Mk5 (NQ5) (2022-present)

Average
DIESELHYBRID ELECTRICPETROL

10.9% fail rate, built around 2022 (3 years old)

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 1 in 10 MOTs, 10.1%)

From 32,543 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Sportage Mk4 (QL)

Mk4 (QL) (2016-2021)

Average
DIESELHYBRID ELECTRICPETROL

16.1% fail rate, built around 2018 (7 years old)

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

From 40,748 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Sportage Mk3 (SL)

Mk3 (SL) (2010-2015)

Average
DIESELPETROL

22.9% fail rate, built around 2015 (10 years old)

Fails about as often as the average car this age (about 1 in 4 MOTs, 22.8%)

From 26,069 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Sportage Mk2 (KM)

Mk2 (KM) (2005-2009)

Not enough tests to rate
DIESELPETROL

35.0% fail rate, built around 2008 (17 years old)

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 3 in 10 MOTs, 31.2%)

From 1,571 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 Sportage.

See every build year for the Kia Sportage

Side-by-side

Kia Sportage 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
Mk5 (NQ5) (2022-present)
Average
Average10.9%built around 2022 (3 years old)from 32,543 MOT tests at this age
Mk4 (QL) (2016-2021)
Average
Average16.1%built around 2018 (7 years old)from 40,748 MOT tests at this age
Mk3 (SL) (2010-2015)
Average
Average22.9%built around 2015 (10 years old)from 26,069 MOT tests at this age
Mk2 (KM) (2005-2009)
No ratingNot enough tests to rate
No ratingNot enough tests to rate35.0%built around 2008 (17 years old)from 1,571 MOT tests at this age

Each row is one generation of the Sportage, 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 Sportage fail rate by age

This chart combines every Kia Sportage 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
32,54310.9%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
28,81513.3%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
28,48014.2%
6 yearsbuilt around 2019
39,16814.6%
7 yearsbuilt around 2018
40,74816.1%
8 yearsbuilt around 2017
45,62818.6%
9 yearsbuilt around 2016
38,08021.1%
10 yearsbuilt around 2015
26,06922.9%
11 yearsbuilt around 2014
25,02926.3%
12 yearsbuilt around 2013
21,65228.9%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
13,96429.4%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
7,59030.0%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
3,96532.2%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
1,78632.4%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
1,57135.0%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
1,08835.5%
19 yearsbuilt around 2006
1,16734.9%
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
59337.9%

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 Sportage 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

10th of 12

10th lowest fail rate of 12 Kia models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

Close to the middle third

Against other SUVs

63rd of 89

63rd lowest fail rate of 89 SUVs with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

Close to the middle third

Against the UK average

16.1%

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

Fails less often than 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 Sportages

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

All generations of this modelPlenty of 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

    19.9%
    Advisory: 11,879Fail: 1,546 (12% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Brake pads wearing thin

    18.0%
    Advisory: 7,928Fail: 1,673 (17% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    11.2%
    Advisory: 6,501Fail: 461 (7% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

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

    7.0%
    Advisory: 3,895Fail: 54 (1% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

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

    6.8%
    Advisory: 3,561Fail: 592 (14% of the times it was found)

Based on 40,748 MOT tests on 7-year-old Kia Sportages, 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 Sportages notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelPlenty of data
  1. Brakes + Tyres47%
  2. Other + Tyres17%
  3. Brakes + Other16%
  4. Suspension + Tyres14%

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

Across 10,844 MOT tests on Kia Sportage 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

92%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% · The same

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

20 recalls in all

17 of the 20 Kia Sportage recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 1 Critical
  • 16 more

Top concerns

  • Kia HECU fuse replacement
  • Kia Sportage vacuum pump recall
  • The mesh filter inside the tandem pump may block causing insufficient oil supply and a risk of vacuum pump failure. If t

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 16.1% for the Kia Sportage, 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 16.1% for the Kia Sportage, 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 16.1% for the Kia Sportage, 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 16.1% for the Kia Sportage, 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 Sportage across all generations combined fails MOTs at about the rate typical for this age. It has the 10th lowest fail rate of 12 Kia models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age. This is based on 40,748 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 Sportage ever sold: 357,936 tests. The main figures are for cars built around 2018 (7 years old): 40,748 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.