Used car guide

2018 Kia Sorento: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Kia Sorentos, from 2,714 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,714MOT tests in 2025
82%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
8,600typical miles a year
2.4×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2018 Kia Sorentos than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.4× usual
    Kia Sorento
    7.6% All 2018 cars
    3.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 0.5% of all 2018 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.

  • Shock absorbers2.4× usual
    Kia Sorento
    6.9% All 2018 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 0.5% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints4.4× usual
    Kia Sorento
    2.2% All 2018 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.2% of all 2018 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.

  • Number plates2× usual
    Kia Sorento
    3.4% All 2018 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.2% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

By area

The share of 2018 Kia Sorento MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    27% 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
    23% 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.

  • Suspension
    18% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    5% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    4% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% 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?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20222,172Tyres 22%
20212,464Tyres 23%
20201,166Tyres 26%
20192,755Tyres 29%
20173,100Tyres 29%
20163,116Tyres 30%
20153,914Suspension 32%
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 2018 Kia Sorentos registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score