2005 Kia Sportage — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Kia Sportage passed 67.6% of its 10,390 recorded MOT tests. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 27.9% of the time, so this is 4.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 22.3% of all tests — 4.9 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, ball joint and pins and bushes — position lamp alone was recorded 791 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 36.8% versus 15.5%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 31.9% of the time against 33.3% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 22.3% | 2,320 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 1,814 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.4% | 1,083 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.7% | 907 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 589 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.7% | 588 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 791 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 782 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 700 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 678 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 644 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 556 |
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 | 39.8% | 4,132 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.9% | 3,421 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.9% | 2,900 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 22.3% | 2,313 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.6% | 1,938 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.4% | 1,913 |
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 | 58 | 15.5% |
| 30-60k | 500 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,025 | 28.4% |
| 90-120k | 4,053 | 33.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,693 | 34.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,054 | 36.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,417 | 31.9% |
| Petrol | 3,973 | 33.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,236 | 32.8% |
| 2022 | 2,547 | 31.6% |
| 2023 | 2,027 | 32.4% |
| 2024 | 1,477 | 32.4% |
| 2025 | 1,103 | 33.5% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Sportage
On a 2005 Sportage, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 22.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (22.3% 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 (17.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.4% 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 2005 Kia Sportages pass their MOT?
67.6% of the 10,390 2005 Kia Sportage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Kia Sportage?
Suspension, recorded in 22.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.5%).
Does the 2005 Sportage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.5% in the 0-30k band to 36.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,390 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.