2010 Kia Sorento — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 12,773 MOT tests, the 2010 Kia Sorento recorded a 73.1% pass rate. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 20.5% of the time, so this is 6.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (14.0%) and lighting & signalling (12.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, position lamp and tread depth — ball joint alone was recorded 945 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.5% in the 0-30k band and 30.4% in the 150k+ band, a 15.9-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.0% | 1,791 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 1,613 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.1% | 1,292 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.6% | 720 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 619 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.9% | 500 |
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 | 945 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 771 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 585 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 423 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 417 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 400 |
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 | 37.6% | 4,804 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.5% | 4,153 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.0% | 3,572 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.7% | 1,619 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.1% | 1,550 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 1,519 |
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 | 62 | 14.5% |
| 30-60k | 688 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 2,905 | 24.4% |
| 90-120k | 4,881 | 27.1% |
| 120-150k | 3,004 | 30.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,229 | 30.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 12,648 | 26.9% |
| Petrol | 125 | 28.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,851 | 26.1% |
| 2022 | 2,757 | 26.8% |
| 2023 | 2,624 | 27.1% |
| 2024 | 2,388 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 2,153 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Sorento
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 14.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (14.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.1% 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 2010 Kia Sorentos pass their MOT?
73.1% of the 12,773 2010 Kia Sorento MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Kia Sorento?
Suspension, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.6%).
Does the 2010 Sorento get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.5% in the 0-30k band to 30.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,773 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.