2014 Kia Sportage — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 114,981 MOT tests, the 2014 Kia Sportage recorded an 82.2% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail at 18.0%, so the 2014 Sportage sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (8.2%) and tyres (6.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and rbt (sp) — tread depth alone was recorded 4,540 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.7% in the 0-30k band and 27.0% in the 150k+ band, a 18.2-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 17.6% of the time against 18.6% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 8.2% | 9,407 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.7% | 7,646 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 6,696 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 3,861 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.2% | 3,640 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.3% | 2,637 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 4,540 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 4,277 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 3,050 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,943 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 2,926 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 2,862 |
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 | 27.3% | 31,405 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.0% | 29,916 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.7% | 12,253 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.6% | 10,998 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 7,479 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.5% | 4,033 |
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 | 2,895 | 8.7% |
| 30-60k | 30,973 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 49,767 | 18.1% |
| 90-120k | 23,793 | 22.6% |
| 120-150k | 6,040 | 24.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,499 | 27.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 95,977 | 17.6% |
| Petrol | 19,004 | 18.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,487 | 13.8% |
| 2022 | 22,745 | 15.7% |
| 2023 | 23,070 | 17.7% |
| 2024 | 23,349 | 19.9% |
| 2025 | 23,330 | 21.5% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Sportage
On a 2014 Sportage, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (8.2% 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.
- Tyres (6.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (5.8% 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 2014 Kia Sportages pass their MOT?
82.2% of the 114,981 2014 Kia Sportage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Kia Sportage?
Brakes, recorded in 8.2% of tests, followed by tyres (6.7%).
Does the 2014 Sportage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.7% in the 0-30k band to 27.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 114,981 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.