Used car guide · 2003–2026

Kia Sorento common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Kia Sorento, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 108,741 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 2024 Kia Sorento

Cars registered in 2024 haven’t had their first MOT yet (it’s due at 3 years old), so there are no MOT results to show. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Kia Sorento as a whole.

1,991on the UK register at the end of 2025
2027first MOT due
Dieselmost common fuel (also petrol hybrid)
What to check on a 2024 car
  • Warranty left

    Ask for the date it was first registered and check how much of the maker’s warranty is left, and that it transfers to you. Electric and hybrid batteries usually have a longer, separate warranty.

  • Servicing

    Servicing on time with the maker’s schedule keeps the warranty valid. Ask for the service book or the dealer’s digital record.

  • Finance

    Nearly new cars are often still on finance. A history check shows outstanding finance, and whether it has been written off or stolen.

  • Recalls

    Ask whether any recall work has been done, and check the reg on GOV.UK’s free recall checker.

  • Logbook (V5C)

    The name and address should match the seller, and the VIN on the V5C should match the car.

Check for recalls on GOV.UK

Other years

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).

202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003

What usually goes wrong with a Kia Sorento?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Heater, oil pump and fuel line recalls

    Cars registered 2015–2020 · 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

    Cars registered 2015–2020 · 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

Common Kia Sorento MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Diesel

  • Brake pads

    up to 2.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2020 and 2021.

    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.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints

    up to 5.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004 and 2005.

    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.

  • Chassis rust or damage

    up to 4.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Body structure rust or damage

    up to 3.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath and along the sills for flaky rust or fresh underseal hiding it.

Hybrid

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 10.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2020 and 2021.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

Kia Sorento MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2021 Kia Sorento did best (87% passed first time, 0 points above all 2021 cars) and the 2012 did worst (59%, 5 points below all 2012 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202395%92% +3380 (small sample)
202288%89% -12,317
202187%87% +04,774
202085%87% -23,510
201983%85% -28,154
201883%83% +08,128
201780%80% +09,237
201677%77% +09,310
201574%74% +011,816
201468%70% -28,609
201364%67% -36,278
201259%64% -55,595
201158%62% -44,756
201058%60% -25,419
200955%59% -43,743
200853%57% -42,705
200754%57% -33,618
200652%56% -45,307
200553%57% -42,879
200450%57% -71,680
200354%57% -3526

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 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 rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 3.4× as often on the Kia Sorento as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the track rod ends? (Flagged at MOT 4.9× as often on the Kia Sorento as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the Kia Sorento as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Kia Sorento?

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 2023–2025, 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