2003 Kia Sedona — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 976 MOT tests, the 2003 Kia Sedona recorded a 66.7% pass rate. That is 3.3 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 30.0%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 19.9% of tests against 16.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), prescribed areas and component mounting prescribed areas — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 121 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.9% in the 30-60k band and 40.7% in the 150k+ band, a 16.8-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 31.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 34.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 19.9% | 194 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 162 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 146 |
| 4 | Suspension | 13.4% | 131 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 8.0% | 78 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.9% | 58 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 121 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 112 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 104 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 104 |
| 5 | Joints | 87 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 86 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 36.9% | 360 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.1% | 343 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.8% | 281 |
| 4 | Other defects | 23.7% | 231 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.6% | 221 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 18.6% | 181 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 71 | 23.9% |
| 60-90k | 265 | 30.6% |
| 90-120k | 301 | 35.2% |
| 120-150k | 235 | 34.5% |
| 150k+ | 81 | 40.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 928 | 33.5% |
| Petrol | 48 | 29.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 351 | 31.6% |
| 2022 | 257 | 32.7% |
| 2023 | 159 | 36.5% |
| 2024 | 121 | 34.7% |
| 2025 | 88 | 34.1% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Sedona
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 19.9% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (19.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (16.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.0% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2003 Kia Sedonas pass their MOT?
66.7% of the 976 2003 Kia Sedona MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Kia Sedona?
Brakes, recorded in 19.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.6%).
Does the 2003 Sedona get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.9% in the 30-60k band to 40.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 976 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.