2008 Kia Sorento — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Kia Sorento passed 70.0% of its 7,344 recorded MOT tests. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 22.6% of the time, so this is 7.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (17.3%) and lighting & signalling (14.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, track rod end and rbt (sp) — ball joint alone was recorded 627 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 34.6% versus 20.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 38.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 29.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 17.3% | 1,272 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 1,093 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.9% | 1,019 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.3% | 539 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.0% | 369 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.2% | 309 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 627 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 554 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 519 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joints | 503 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 486 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 444 |
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 | 38.1% | 2,796 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.4% | 2,156 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.9% | 1,678 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.2% | 1,559 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.3% | 1,126 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 820 |
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 | 44 | 20.4% |
| 30-60k | 424 | 19.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,733 | 26.3% |
| 90-120k | 3,085 | 30.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,575 | 34.5% |
| 150k+ | 483 | 34.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,998 | 29.5% |
| 2022 | 1,738 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 1,491 | 30.8% |
| 2024 | 1,203 | 30.3% |
| 2025 | 914 | 31.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Sorento
On a 2008 Sorento, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (17.3% 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 (14.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.9% 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 2008 Kia Sorentos pass their MOT?
70.0% of the 7,344 2008 Kia Sorento MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Kia Sorento?
Brakes, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.9%).
Does the 2008 Sorento get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.4% in the 0-30k band to 34.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,344 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.