Used car guide

2010 Kia Sorento: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2010 Kia Sorentos, from 1,654 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,654MOT tests in 2025
59%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 59%)
7,900typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2010 Kia Sorentos than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.3× usual
    Kia Sorento
    15.8% All 2010 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 1.1% of all 2010 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.

  • Sub-frame2.2× usual
    Kia Sorento
    15.1% All 2010 cars
    7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.4% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Suspension arm2.6× usual
    Kia Sorento
    10.8% All 2010 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.5% of all 2010 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.

  • Brake pads1.7× usual
    Kia Sorento
    15.5% All 2010 cars
    9.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 2.2% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Airbag warning light5× usual
    Kia Sorento
    3.5% All 2010 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 0.7% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Braking performance: 2.4% here, against 5.9% of all 2010 cars.

By area

The share of 2010 Kia Sorento MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    55% 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
    42% 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.

  • Tyres
    33% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    31% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    18% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Looking at a Kia Sorento?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20222,172Tyres 22%
20212,464Tyres 23%
20201,166Tyres 26%
20192,755Tyres 29%
20182,714Tyres 27%
20173,100Tyres 29%
20163,116Tyres 30%
20153,914Suspension 32%
20142,832Suspension 41%
20132,035Suspension 44%
20121,766Suspension 52%
20111,471Suspension 58%
20091,045Suspension 50%
2008699Suspension 52%
2007876Suspension 54%
20061,239Suspension 51%
2005657Suspension 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2010 Kia Sorentos registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score