2016 Kia Sportage — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Kia Sportage passed 85.5% of its 214,648 recorded MOT tests. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail at 13.8%, so the 2016 Sportage sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (6.4%) and tyres (5.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, tread depth and wipers — brake pads alone was recorded 9,065 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.6% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 14.5% of the time against 14.5% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 6.4% | 13,795 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.2% | 11,068 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.7% | 7,926 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 6,763 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.8% | 3,880 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.2% | 2,590 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 9,065 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 8,938 |
| 3 | Wipers | 6,147 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 4,468 |
| 5 | Washers | 3,202 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 2,653 |
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 | 26.6% | 57,189 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.1% | 47,391 |
| 3 | Other defects | 10.0% | 21,469 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.8% | 14,630 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 7,375 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 2,936 |
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 | 16,777 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 103,277 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 72,453 | 16.9% |
| 90-120k | 18,499 | 20.9% |
| 120-150k | 2,979 | 21.6% |
| 150k+ | 652 | 21.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 153,234 | 14.5% |
| Petrol | 61,413 | 14.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 42,006 | 11.7% |
| 2022 | 42,425 | 12.4% |
| 2023 | 42,877 | 14.0% |
| 2024 | 43,567 | 16.4% |
| 2025 | 43,773 | 17.7% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Sportage
On a 2016 Sportage, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (6.4% 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 (5.2% 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.
- Visibility (3.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2016 Kia Sportages pass their MOT?
85.5% of the 214,648 2016 Kia Sportage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Kia Sportage?
Brakes, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by tyres (5.2%).
Does the 2016 Sportage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 21.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 214,648 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.