Used car guide · 2000–2012

Kia Sedona common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Kia Sedona, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 4,043 MOTs done during 2025), and what to check before you buy one.

4,043MOTs done in 2025, all years of this model
6,529on the UK register
2011best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000

What usually goes wrong with a Kia Sedona?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Kia Sedona in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Kia Sedona MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2025.

  • Braking performance

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008 and 2011.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2010 and 2011.

    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.

  • Suspension arm

    up to 3.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007 and 2008.

    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.

Kia Sedona MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2011 Kia Sedona did best (61% passed first time, 0 points above all 2011 cars) and the 2008 did worst (53%, 4 points below all 2008 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201263%63% +0143 (small sample)
201161%61% +0659
201058%59% -1760
200957%58% -1435 (small sample)
200853%57% -4698
200754%57% -3605
200653%57% -4357 (small sample)
200548%58% -10241 (small sample)
200443%58% -15145 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Kia Sedona

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the Kia Sedona as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the Kia Sedona as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the Kia Sedona as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Kia Sedona?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score