2009 Kia Sportage — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 17,081 MOT tests, the 2009 Kia Sportage recorded a 72.4% pass rate. That is 1.4 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 26.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.8%) and suspension (14.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, pins and bushes and tread depth — position lamp alone was recorded 1,269 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.7% once past 150k — 4.1× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 27.1% of the time against 28.6% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 2,532 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.5% | 2,481 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.5% | 1,795 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 942 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 869 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.1% | 865 |
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 | 1,269 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 1,230 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 861 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 825 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 766 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 756 |
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 | 34.9% | 5,958 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.9% | 5,101 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.1% | 4,792 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.6% | 2,668 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.5% | 2,139 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 2,034 |
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 | 103 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,360 | 19.3% |
| 60-90k | 5,385 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 6,555 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 2,921 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 755 | 31.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 11,858 | 27.1% |
| Petrol | 5,223 | 28.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,228 | 26.0% |
| 2022 | 3,906 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 3,533 | 28.1% |
| 2024 | 3,032 | 30.3% |
| 2025 | 2,382 | 28.3% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Sportage
On a 2009 Sportage, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.5% 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.
- Brakes (10.5% 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 2009 Kia Sportages pass their MOT?
72.4% of the 17,081 2009 Kia Sportage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Kia Sportage?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by suspension (14.5%).
Does the 2009 Sportage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 31.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,081 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.