2009 Kia Sorento — MOT failures & pass rate
9,508 MOT tests on the 2009 Kia Sorento are in this dataset, and 72.2% of them passed. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 21.5% of the time, so this is 6.2pp 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 (15.5%) and lighting & signalling (14.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, rigid brake pipes and linkage ball joints — ball joint alone was recorded 783 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.3% versus 16.3%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.5% | 1,474 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 1,405 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.2% | 1,158 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.2% | 593 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 408 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.6% | 346 |
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 | 783 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 606 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joints | 600 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 583 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 573 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 571 |
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 | 36.0% | 3,428 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.7% | 2,636 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.1% | 2,198 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.8% | 1,978 |
| 5 | Other defects | 18.2% | 1,730 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 928 |
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 | 49 | 16.3% |
| 30-60k | 604 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,731 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 3,764 | 29.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,911 | 32.3% |
| 150k+ | 444 | 31.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,371 | 26.1% |
| 2022 | 2,144 | 27.0% |
| 2023 | 1,973 | 28.8% |
| 2024 | 1,642 | 28.6% |
| 2025 | 1,378 | 29.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Sorento
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 15.5% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (15.5% 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 (14.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.2% 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 2009 Kia Sorentos pass their MOT?
72.2% of the 9,508 2009 Kia Sorento MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Kia Sorento?
Brakes, recorded in 15.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.8%).
Does the 2009 Sorento get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.3% in the 0-30k band to 31.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,508 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.