2005 Kia Sorento — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Kia Sorento passed 67.3% of its 9,326 recorded MOT tests. Against large SUVs of a similar age (24.8% fail rate), the 2005 Sorento comes out 8.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (19.1%) and brakes (16.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 956 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 34.5% versus 23.0%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.5% in 2021 to 31.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.1% | 1,778 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.9% | 1,578 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.1% | 1,412 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.6% | 1,176 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.4% | 600 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.0% | 558 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 956 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 945 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 925 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 786 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 734 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 649 |
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 | 36.7% | 3,423 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.2% | 3,190 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.6% | 2,204 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.1% | 1,972 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 1,701 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.1% | 1,128 |
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 | 343 | 23.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,605 | 29.3% |
| 90-120k | 3,447 | 32.8% |
| 120-150k | 2,745 | 35.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,156 | 34.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,992 | 32.8% |
| Petrol | 334 | 31.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,288 | 33.5% |
| 2022 | 2,400 | 32.8% |
| 2023 | 1,644 | 31.8% |
| 2024 | 1,170 | 32.8% |
| 2025 | 824 | 31.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Sorento
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.9% 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.
- Suspension (15.1% 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 Sorentos pass their MOT?
67.3% of the 9,326 2005 Kia Sorento MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Kia Sorento?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.1% of tests, followed by brakes (16.9%).
Does the 2005 Sorento get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.0% in the 30-60k band to 34.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,326 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.