2011 Kia Sorento — MOT failures & pass rate
11,011 MOT tests on the 2011 Kia Sorento are in this dataset, and 74.3% of them passed. Against large SUVs of a similar age (19.2% fail rate), the 2011 Sorento comes out 6.5pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.5%) and lighting & signalling (11.9%) 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 798 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.4% versus 20.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.5% | 1,481 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 1,312 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.4% | 1,032 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.1% | 558 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 386 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.0% | 329 |
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 | 798 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 729 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 449 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 394 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 379 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 328 |
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 | 35.1% | 3,870 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.2% | 3,432 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.9% | 3,072 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.9% | 1,311 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 1,128 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 662 |
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 | 86 | 20.9% |
| 30-60k | 751 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,971 | 22.3% |
| 90-120k | 4,081 | 27.0% |
| 120-150k | 2,201 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 920 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,981 | 25.7% |
| Petrol | 30 | 20.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,382 | 24.2% |
| 2022 | 2,317 | 24.6% |
| 2023 | 2,235 | 25.3% |
| 2024 | 2,131 | 27.0% |
| 2025 | 1,946 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Sorento
On a 2011 Sorento, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.5% 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 (11.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.4% 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 2011 Kia Sorentos pass their MOT?
74.3% of the 11,011 2011 Kia Sorento MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Kia Sorento?
Suspension, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.9%).
Does the 2011 Sorento get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.9% in the 0-30k band to 31.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,011 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.