2012 Kia Sorento — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Kia Sorento passed 75.1% of its 12,614 recorded MOT tests. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 17.8% of the time, so this is 7.1pp 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 (12.6%) and lighting & signalling (11.1%) 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 852 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.9% in the 0-30k band and 30.4% in the 150k+ band, a 19.5-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 31.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.6% | 1,587 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 1,404 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.0% | 1,140 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.5% | 699 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 405 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.0% | 385 |
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 | 852 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 759 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 515 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 376 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 362 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 352 |
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 | 31.3% | 3,945 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.5% | 3,597 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.8% | 3,505 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.3% | 1,430 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 1,149 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 800 |
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 | 128 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,145 | 18.3% |
| 60-90k | 3,931 | 22.4% |
| 90-120k | 4,587 | 26.9% |
| 120-150k | 2,092 | 28.0% |
| 150k+ | 729 | 30.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 12,565 | 24.9% |
| Petrol | 49 | 28.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,568 | 22.1% |
| 2022 | 2,570 | 22.7% |
| 2023 | 2,603 | 25.9% |
| 2024 | 2,509 | 26.3% |
| 2025 | 2,364 | 27.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Sorento
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 12.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (12.6% 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 (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.0% 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 2012 Kia Sorentos pass their MOT?
75.1% of the 12,614 2012 Kia Sorento MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Kia Sorento?
Suspension, recorded in 12.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.1%).
Does the 2012 Sorento get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 30.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,614 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.