2008 Kia Sedona — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Kia Sedona passed 70.3% of its 7,613 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.6 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 28.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.8%) and suspension (15.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and ball joint — position lamp alone was recorded 488 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.0% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 44.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 1,359 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.3% | 1,162 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.8% | 902 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.6% | 428 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.5% | 422 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.4% | 408 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 488 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 485 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 481 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 418 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 381 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 375 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 44.7% | 3,404 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.3% | 2,608 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.4% | 2,086 |
| 4 | Other defects | 16.3% | 1,242 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.1% | 1,148 |
| 6 | Steering | 14.7% | 1,122 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 31 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 671 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,944 | 26.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,827 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,453 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 682 | 34.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,500 | 29.7% |
| Petrol | 113 | 24.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,117 | 28.7% |
| 2022 | 1,814 | 29.0% |
| 2023 | 1,535 | 30.5% |
| 2024 | 1,230 | 30.9% |
| 2025 | 917 | 30.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Sedona
On a 2008 Sedona, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Suspension (15.3% 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.
- Brakes (11.8% 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.
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 2008 Kia Sedonas pass their MOT?
70.3% of the 7,613 2008 Kia Sedona MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Kia Sedona?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by suspension (15.3%).
Does the 2008 Sedona get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 0-30k band to 34.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,613 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.