Used car guide

2011 Kia Sedona: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Kia Sedonas, from 659 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

659MOT tests in 2025
61%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
6,000typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Kia Sedonas than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.9× usual
    Kia Sedona
    20.2% All 2011 cars
    10.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 2.3% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Rigid brake pipes2× usual
    Kia Sedona
    12.1% All 2011 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Braking performance2× usual
    Kia Sedona
    10.6% All 2011 cars
    5.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.6%, against 2.1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Better than most

Exhaust system: 3% here, against 6.4% of all 2011 cars.

By area

The share of 2011 Kia Sedona MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    42% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    35% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    32% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    32% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    8% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2010760Suspension 48%
2008698Suspension 59%
2007605Suspension 60%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2011 Kia Sedonas registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score