Used car guide

2009 Kia Sportage: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2009 Kia Sportages, from 1,838 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,838MOT tests in 2025
55%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 58%)
6,500typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2009 Kia Sportages than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.1× usual
    Kia Sportage
    23% All 2009 cars
    11.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.8%, against 2.3% of all 2009 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 system2.1× usual
    Kia Sportage
    17.9% All 2009 cars
    8.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.9%, against 2.2% of all 2009 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.

  • Sub-frame1.7× usual
    Kia Sportage
    13.1% All 2009 cars
    7.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 0.4% of all 2009 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.

  • Seat belts3.9× usual
    Kia Sportage
    5.8% All 2009 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 0.5% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

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

Better than most

Coil springs: 4.8% here, against 12.4% of all 2009 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 1.8% here, against 7.5% of all 2009 cars.

By area

The share of 2009 Kia Sportage MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    54% 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
    41% 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
    35% 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
    34% 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
    17% 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?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

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%
20081,116Suspension 55%
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 2009 Kia Sportages registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score