Reliability report
Kia Sportage reliability and common faults
Based on 370,284 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
21.0%
fail rate · average 19.6%
worse than average
256,927 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
50.8%
with defects · average 50.6%
about average
89,497 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
66.4%
first-time pass · average 67.9%
about average
23,860 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Kia Sportage
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Body and structure
Wheels
Brakesconfirmed in 2 countries
Steeringconfirmed in 2 countries
Visibility
Tyres
Lights and electrics
Exhaust and emissions
Seat belts and airbags
Plates and identification
Suspension
Driving controls
Most common test failures
- 1Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 2Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 3Tyre insufficient tread
- 4Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 5Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 6Turn signal color incorrect/not allowed
- 7Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
- 8Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility
- 9Steering gear dust cover damaged, not sealing
- 10Sidelight not working (properly)
- 11Tyre damaged
- 12Exhaust system not gas-tight / unsafe exhaust gas discharge
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 11.4% avg 9.9% | 21.8% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 15.8% avg 15.3% | 35.2% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 23.4% avg 22.9% | 47.1% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 35.4% avg 30.3% | 54.2% avg 55.4% |
| 16–20 years | 39.9% avg 34.6% | 67.1% avg 64.7% |
| 21+ years | — | 75.0% avg 68.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | Sportage | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 62.3% | 61.4% | 69 |
| 2021 | 93.8% | 86.7% | 833 |
| 2020 | 84.7% | 78.6% | 386 |
| 2019 | 89.5% | 83.2% | 1,816 |
| 2018 | 85.9% | 79.5% | 1,762 |
| 2017 | 79.8% | 76.6% | 2,306 |
| 2016 | 77.1% | 72.8% | 1,961 |
| 2015 | 65.5% | 71.1% | 1,994 |
| 2014 | 63.3% | 68.0% | 1,493 |
| 2013 | 59.7% | 65.9% | 2,168 |
| 2012 | 56.4% | 63.7% | 2,289 |
| 2011 | 50.1% | 61.2% | 2,245 |
| 2010 | 53.6% | 57.3% | 1,031 |
| 2009 | 53.4% | 54.5% | 378 |
| 2008 | 49.6% | 52.4% | 774 |
Kia Sportage – FAQs
How reliable is the Kia Sportage?+
In the UK the Kia Sportage fails 21.0% of MOT tests, against an average of 19.6% for cars of the same age – worse than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 50.8% of APK inspections (average there 50.6%) – about average. In Lithuania 66.4% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 67.9%) – about average.
What goes wrong most often on the Kia Sportage?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: body and structure, wheels, brakes, steering.
What should I check when buying a used Kia Sportage?+
The most common inspection failures: Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Tyre insufficient tread; Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing; Low beam incorrectly adjusted. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Kia models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: LuvsMG481, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).