Used car guide

2015 Kia Sorento: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2015 Kia Sorentos, from 3,914 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,914MOT tests in 2025
72%pass first time (all 2015 cars: 72%)
8,600typical miles a year
1.6×the usual rate for brake pads

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2015 Kia Sorentos than on all cars registered in 2015.

  • Brake pads1.6× usual
    Kia Sorento
    16.5% All 2015 cars
    10.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 2.2% of all 2015 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.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.3× usual
    Kia Sorento
    5.7% All 2015 cars
    2.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0.3% of all 2015 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.

  • Link ball joint covers3.9× usual
    Kia Sorento
    3.9% All 2015 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 0.5% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Ball joint1.8× usual
    Kia Sorento
    6.4% All 2015 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 1.9% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints2.5× usual
    Kia Sorento
    3.5% All 2015 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.5% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Coil springs: 1.7% here, against 5.4% of all 2015 cars. Number plate lights: 1.7% here, against 4.1% of all 2015 cars.

By area

The share of 2015 Kia Sorento MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    32% 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.

  • Tyres
    31% 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.

  • Brakes
    30% 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
    10% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% 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
    4% 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.

Looking at a Kia Sorento?

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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%
20142,832Suspension 41%
20132,035Suspension 44%
20121,766Suspension 52%
20111,471Suspension 58%
20101,654Suspension 55%
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 2015 Kia Sorentos registered in 2015. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score