2005 Kia Sedona — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,546 MOT tests, the 2005 Kia Sedona recorded a 66.5% pass rate. That is 3.5 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 30.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.8%) and brakes (16.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are prescribed areas, headlamp aim and component mounting prescribed areas — prescribed areas alone was recorded 435 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 28.0% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 35.5% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.9% in 2021 to 32.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 633 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.4% | 581 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.3% | 509 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.5% | 371 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 8.7% | 307 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.8% | 240 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prescribed areas | 435 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 309 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 232 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 226 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 226 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 219 |
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 | 34.6% | 1,228 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.8% | 1,057 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.6% | 1,049 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.9% | 777 |
| 5 | Other defects | 18.4% | 651 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.5% | 620 |
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 | 261 | 28.0% |
| 60-90k | 925 | 31.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,306 | 33.7% |
| 120-150k | 715 | 37.3% |
| 150k+ | 313 | 35.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,490 | 33.4% |
| Petrol | 56 | 33.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,335 | 34.9% |
| 2022 | 908 | 34.4% |
| 2023 | 590 | 30.5% |
| 2024 | 406 | 31.3% |
| 2025 | 307 | 32.9% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Sedona
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.4% 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.
- Suspension (14.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2005 Kia Sedonas pass their MOT?
66.5% of the 3,546 2005 Kia Sedona MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Kia Sedona?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by brakes (16.4%).
Does the 2005 Sedona get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.0% in the 30-60k band to 35.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,546 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.