Used car guide

2005 Kia Sportage: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Kia Sportages, from 839 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

839MOT tests in 2025
50%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
5,600typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for number plate lights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 Kia Sportages than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Number plate lights1.9× usual
    Kia Sportage
    15.4% All 2005 cars
    8.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 2.2% of all 2005 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.

  • Rust around sub-frame mountings4.2× usual
    Kia Sportage
    6.3% All 2005 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 0.3% of all 2005 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.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints2× usual
    Kia Sportage
    8.2% All 2005 cars
    4.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 1.5% of all 2005 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.

  • Link ball joint covers2.2× usual
    Kia Sportage
    6.6% All 2005 cars
    3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 1.7% of all 2005 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.

  • Airbag warning light2.3× usual
    Kia Sportage
    3.7% All 2005 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 1.5% of all 2005 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

Coil springs: 4.5% here, against 10.8% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 Kia Sportage MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    57% 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
    46% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    38% 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
    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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    21% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    17% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Kia Sportage?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20231,712Tyres 12%
202229,340Tyres 19%
202126,918Tyres 26%
202018,964Tyres 29%
201933,018Tyres 29%
201833,673Tyres 31%
201736,407Tyres 31%
201636,617Tyres 31%
201520,627Tyres 33%
201418,683Brakes 35%
201317,285Suspension 44%
201212,095Suspension 47%
20117,113Suspension 50%
20103,635Suspension 52%
20091,838Suspension 54%
20081,116Suspension 55%
2007934Suspension 57%
2006803Suspension 61%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 Kia Sportages registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score