2016 Kia Sorento — MOT failures & pass rate
18,377 MOT tests on the 2016 Kia Sorento are in this dataset, and 84.6% of them passed. Against large SUVs of a similar age (12.5% fail rate), the 2016 Sorento comes out 2.9pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.3%) and brakes (5.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, pins and bushes and headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 717 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.7% versus 8.5%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.3% | 968 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.1% | 943 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.8% | 872 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 744 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 433 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 280 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 717 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 557 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 468 |
| 4 | Wipers | 435 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 422 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 329 |
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 | 25.2% | 4,637 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.4% | 4,113 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.8% | 2,353 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.2% | 1,866 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 702 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 379 |
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 | 1,181 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 7,919 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 6,337 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,255 | 20.8% |
| 120-150k | 527 | 25.1% |
| 150k+ | 157 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 18,341 | 15.4% |
| Petrol | 36 | 22.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,612 | 12.9% |
| 2022 | 3,614 | 13.5% |
| 2023 | 3,686 | 15.6% |
| 2024 | 3,713 | 16.7% |
| 2025 | 3,752 | 18.1% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Sorento
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.3% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (5.1% 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.
- Suspension (4.8% 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 2016 Kia Sorentos pass their MOT?
84.6% of the 18,377 2016 Kia Sorento MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Kia Sorento?
Tyres, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by brakes (5.1%).
Does the 2016 Sorento get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 21.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,377 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.