2010 Kia Sportage — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Kia Sportage passed 74.1% of its 28,417 recorded MOT tests. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail at 25.2%, so the 2010 Sportage sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.5%) and lighting & signalling (11.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, ball joint and tread depth — pins and bushes alone was recorded 1,436 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.0% versus 9.7%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 25.8% of the time against 26.3% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.5% | 3,824 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 3,215 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.2% | 2,608 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.8% | 1,653 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.0% | 1,416 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 1,290 |
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 | 1,436 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 1,419 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,367 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 1,285 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 1,016 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 983 |
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 | 32.2% | 9,148 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.0% | 7,952 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.8% | 7,617 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.8% | 3,363 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.2% | 2,904 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 2,701 |
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 | 258 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 2,493 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 8,937 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 10,639 | 27.4% |
| 120-150k | 4,769 | 30.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,313 | 31.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 20,548 | 25.8% |
| Petrol | 7,867 | 26.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,250 | 23.4% |
| 2022 | 6,210 | 25.5% |
| 2023 | 5,787 | 25.3% |
| 2024 | 5,416 | 28.2% |
| 2025 | 4,754 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Sportage
On a 2010 Sportage, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.2% 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 2010 Kia Sportages pass their MOT?
74.1% of the 28,417 2010 Kia Sportage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Kia Sportage?
Suspension, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.3%).
Does the 2010 Sportage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 31.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,417 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.