Used car guide

2008 Kia Sportage: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Kia Sportages, from 1,116 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,116MOT tests in 2025
55%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
6,300typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Kia Sportages than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.9× usual
    Kia Sportage
    22% All 2008 cars
    11.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5%, against 2.3% of all 2008 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.

  • Exhaust system1.9× usual
    Kia Sportage
    17.3% All 2008 cars
    9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 2.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Brake pads1.8× usual
    Kia Sportage
    15.7% All 2008 cars
    8.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 2.1% of all 2008 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.

  • Sub-frame1.9× usual
    Kia Sportage
    14.8% All 2008 cars
    7.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.8%, against 0.4% of all 2008 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 bushes and joints5.2× usual
    Kia Sportage
    5.2% All 2008 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.2% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

Better than most

Coil springs: 5.2% here, against 12.2% of all 2008 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 3.7% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Kia Sportage 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
    40% 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
    38% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    30% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    19% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    15% 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 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%
2007934Suspension 57%
2006803Suspension 61%
2005839Suspension 57%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Kia Sportages registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score