2012 Kia Sportage — MOT failures & pass rate
83,333 MOT tests on the 2012 Kia Sportage are in this dataset, and 75.1% of them passed. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 22.3% of the time, so this is 2.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 12.8% of all tests — 3.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and ball joint — coil spring alone was recorded 5,373 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.5% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.2pp more often than petrol ones (25.1% vs 23.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 22.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.8% | 10,694 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.8% | 8,155 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 5,782 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 4,847 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 3,214 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.0% | 2,531 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 5,373 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 4,223 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 3,511 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 3,100 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 3,029 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 2,742 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 29.6% | 24,683 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.3% | 21,877 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.2% | 17,647 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 9,794 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.0% | 9,133 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.6% | 3,811 |
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 | 856 | 14.6% |
| 30-60k | 9,667 | 18.1% |
| 60-90k | 30,964 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 27,734 | 27.3% |
| 120-150k | 10,914 | 28.4% |
| 150k+ | 3,193 | 30.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 72,283 | 25.1% |
| Petrol | 11,050 | 23.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,632 | 22.0% |
| 2022 | 16,963 | 23.7% |
| 2023 | 17,012 | 25.6% |
| 2024 | 16,619 | 26.2% |
| 2025 | 16,107 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Sportage
On a 2012 Sportage, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (12.8% 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 (9.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2012 Kia Sportages pass their MOT?
75.1% of the 83,333 2012 Kia Sportage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Kia Sportage?
Suspension, recorded in 12.8% of tests, followed by brakes (9.8%).
Does the 2012 Sportage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 0-30k band to 30.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 83,333 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.