2018 Kia Sorento: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2018 Kia Sorento?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2018 Kia Sorento than on all cars registered in 2018.

• Brake pads1.7× usual
  Kia Sorento

  18% All 2018 cars

  10.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 2% of all 2018 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.

• Shock absorbers2.7× usual
  Kia Sorento

  6.1% All 2018 cars

  2.3%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 0.4% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

• Suspension arm bushes and joints2.5× usual
  Kia Sorento

  5.8% All 2018 cars

  2.3%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 0.4% of all 2018 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.

• Number plates2.1× usual
  Kia Sorento

  2.9% All 2018 cars

  1.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.2% of all 2018 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.

Common 2018 Kia Sorento MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2018 Kia Sorento MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  28% 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.

• Brakes
  22% 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.

• Suspension
  15% 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
  6% 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
  4% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

• Lights and electrics
  4% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

Known faults on the 2018 Kia Sorento

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Heater, oil pump and fuel line recalls

  Diesel

  Recalls covered a diesel heater connector that could overheat, an oil pump fault in the dual-clutch automatic, and a diesel fuel line that could leak.

  At the viewing: Ask a Kia dealer to confirm the recalls were done.

  Source: What Car?: used Kia Sorento (2015-2020) reliability

• Clutch wear from towing

  Manual gearbox

  Check manual cars for clutch slip or smell, especially if they've towed.

  At the viewing: Accelerate hard in a high gear and feel for slip.

  Source: What Car?: used Kia Sorento (2015-2020) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2018 Kia Sorento

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

1. Have all the recalls been done?
2. Any recent work on the brake pads? (Flagged at MOT 1.7× as often on the 2018 Kia Sorento as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the 2018 Kia Sorento as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the 2018 Kia Sorento as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?