2007 Kia Sportage — MOT failures & pass rate
11,157 MOT tests on the 2007 Kia Sportage are in this dataset, and 67.8% of them passed. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), the 2007 Sportage comes out 4.8pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 21.1% of all tests — 5.1 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, pins and bushes and ball joint — position lamp alone was recorded 897 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.6% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 35.6% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 31.8% of the time against 32.9% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 30.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 21.1% | 2,355 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 1,784 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.1% | 1,240 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 849 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 603 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.1% | 572 |
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 | 897 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 756 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 697 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 689 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 516 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 512 |
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 | 39.6% | 4,419 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.1% | 3,577 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.4% | 3,051 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.2% | 2,032 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 1,927 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.8% | 1,319 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 616 | 20.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,537 | 28.7% |
| 90-120k | 4,416 | 32.9% |
| 120-150k | 2,753 | 35.7% |
| 150k+ | 801 | 35.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,960 | 31.8% |
| Petrol | 4,193 | 32.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,236 | 30.7% |
| 2022 | 2,812 | 32.3% |
| 2023 | 2,216 | 32.5% |
| 2024 | 1,703 | 33.8% |
| 2025 | 1,190 | 32.9% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Sportage
On a 2007 Sportage, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (21.1% 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 (16.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.1% 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.
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 2007 Kia Sportages pass their MOT?
67.8% of the 11,157 2007 Kia Sportage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Kia Sportage?
Suspension, recorded in 21.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.0%).
Does the 2007 Sportage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.6% in the 30-60k band to 35.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,157 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.