2019 Kia Sorento — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Kia Sorento passed 89.5% of its 12,422 recorded MOT tests. Large SUVs of a similar age fail at 9.8%, so the 2019 Sorento sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.1%) and lighting & signalling (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 515 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.6% once past 90-120k — 3.1× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.1% | 514 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 479 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.7% | 340 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 304 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.4% | 294 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 103 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 515 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 399 |
| 3 | Wipers | 309 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 201 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 158 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 146 |
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 | 23.7% | 2,943 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.7% | 2,074 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.0% | 1,121 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.9% | 985 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 366 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.3% | 291 |
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 | 4,546 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 6,248 | 12.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,388 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 199 | 18.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 12,388 | 10.5% |
| Petrol | 34 | 8.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 105 | 10.5% |
| 2022 | 3,078 | 7.6% |
| 2023 | 3,086 | 10.1% |
| 2024 | 3,040 | 10.9% |
| 2025 | 3,113 | 13.2% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Sorento
On a 2019 Sorento, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.7% 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 2019 Kia Sorentos pass their MOT?
89.5% of the 12,422 2019 Kia Sorento MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Kia Sorento?
Tyres, recorded in 4.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.9%).
Does the 2019 Sorento get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 18.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,422 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.