2023 Kia Sorento — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2023 Kia Sorento passed 98.5% of its 391 recorded MOT tests. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 6.8% of the time, so this is 5.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (2.1%) and tyres (1.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 14 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 11.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 8 |
| 2 | Tyres | 1.0% | 4 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.8% | 3 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.5% | 2 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.5% | 2 |
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 | 14 |
| 2 | Washers | 3 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 3 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 2 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 1 |
| 6 | Decelerometer (sp) | 1 |
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 | 11.8% | 46 |
| 2 | Other defects | 3.6% | 14 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.8% | 11 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.3% | 5 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.8% | 3 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 2 |
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 | 257 | 1.6% |
| 30-60k | 105 | 1.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 357 | 1.4% |
| Diesel | 33 | 3.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 113 | 2.6% |
| 2025 | 276 | 1.1% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Sorento
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 2.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (2.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (1.0% 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.
- Visibility (0.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2023 Kia Sorentos pass their MOT?
98.5% of the 391 2023 Kia Sorento MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 1.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Kia Sorento?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 2.1% of tests, followed by tyres (1.0%).
Does the 2023 Sorento get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 1.6% in the 0-30k band to 1.9% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 391 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.