Used car guide

2023 Kia Sorento: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2023 Kia Sorentos, from 277 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 277 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

277MOT tests in 2025
96%pass first time (all 2023 cars: 92%)
10,300typical miles a year
14%had tyres flagged

What gets flagged at MOT

The share of 2023 Kia Sorento MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    14% 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.

  • Suspension
    4% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    2% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

  • Brakes
    1% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    1% 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%
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%
2004346Brakes 46%
2003124Brakes 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2023 Kia Sorentos registered in 2023. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score