2008 Kia Sportage — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,444 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Kia Sportage, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 71.8% was below the average for mid-size SUVs of a similar age (73.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.1% in the 150k+ group versus 19.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.4% | 1,875 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 1,656 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.6% | 1,102 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 646 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 608 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.9% | 565 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 890 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 806 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 549 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 522 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 469 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 468 |
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 | 38.4% | 4,398 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.7% | 3,631 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.1% | 3,096 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.0% | 1,833 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 1,818 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.4% | 1,303 |
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 | 87 | 19.5% |
| 30-60k | 789 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,996 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 4,501 | 29.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,381 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 689 | 32.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,674 | 26.6% |
| Petrol | 3,768 | 31.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,060 | 27.0% |
| 2022 | 2,740 | 27.7% |
| 2023 | 2,322 | 28.5% |
| 2024 | 1,899 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 1,423 | 28.9% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Sportage
Before buying a 2008 Kia Sportage, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 16.4% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (16.4% 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 (14.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.6% 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 2008 Kia Sportages pass their MOT?
71.8% of the 11,444 2008 Kia Sportage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Kia Sportage?
Suspension, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.5%).
Does the 2008 Sportage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.5% in the 0-30k band to 32.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,444 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.