2014 Kia Sorento — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Kia Sorento passed 79.8% of its 18,080 recorded MOT tests. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 15.1% of the time, so this is 5.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in steering, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — steering (8.3%) and brakes (5.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, tread depth and brake pads — track rod end alone was recorded 1,622 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.8% once past 150k — 3.5× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steering | 8.3% | 1,501 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.9% | 1,066 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.4% | 969 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 960 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.0% | 912 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.7% | 495 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 1,622 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 644 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 627 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 412 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 373 |
| 6 | Wipers | 336 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.0% | 4,706 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.5% | 4,248 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.8% | 2,489 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.1% | 1,833 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 1,075 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.6% | 1,010 |
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 | 378 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 4,250 | 13.2% |
| 60-90k | 7,304 | 20.0% |
| 90-120k | 4,424 | 25.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,421 | 27.4% |
| 150k+ | 302 | 28.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,530 | 16.1% |
| 2022 | 3,566 | 17.9% |
| 2023 | 3,710 | 21.4% |
| 2024 | 3,656 | 22.5% |
| 2025 | 3,618 | 23.0% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Sorento
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: steering accounted for 8.3% of tests. Start there.
- Steering (8.3% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
- Brakes (5.9% 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.
- Suspension (5.4% 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 2014 Kia Sorentos pass their MOT?
79.8% of the 18,080 2014 Kia Sorento MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Kia Sorento?
Steering, recorded in 8.3% of tests, followed by brakes (5.9%).
Does the 2014 Sorento get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 28.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,080 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.