2021 Kia Sorento 3 Crdi S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 1,020 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Kia Sorento 3 Crdi S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres. Its pass rate of 90.3% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 16.4% in the 60-90k group versus 8.8% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

1,020

MOT tests analysed

9.7%

Fail rate

in line with

vs cars of similar age

3.5

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2021 Kia Sorento 3 Crdi S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Lighting & signalling	6.5%	66
2	Visibility	3.9%	40
3	Tyres	1.6%	16
4	Brakes	1.3%	13
5	Suspension	0.7%	7
6	Emissions & environmental	0.7%	7

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2021 Kia Sorento 3 Crdi S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Wipers	46
2	Headlamp aim	31
3	Front fog lamp switch	23
4	Switch	21
5	Front fog lamps	20
6	Rear fog lamp	19

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2021 Kia Sorento 3 Crdi S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	18.4%	188
2	Brakes	16.7%	170
3	Other defects	8.1%	83
4	Suspension	3.2%	33
5	Visibility	2.8%	29
6	Lighting & signalling	0.5%	5

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2021 Sorento 3 Crdi S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	453	8.8%
30-60k	505	9.7%
60-90k	61	16.4%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2021 Sorento 3 Crdi S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2024	498	7.6%
2025	504	11.7%

What to check before buying a 2021 Sorento 3 Crdi S-A

Before buying a 2021 Kia Sorento 3 Crdi S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 6.5% of tests for this year.

Lighting & signalling (6.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Visibility (3.9% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Tyres (1.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.

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 2021 Kia Sorento 3 Crdi S-As pass their MOT?

90.3% of the 1,020 2021 Kia Sorento 3 Crdi S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.7% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Kia Sorento 3 Crdi S-A?

Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by visibility (3.9%).

Does the 2021 Sorento 3 Crdi S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 16.4% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 1,020 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.