2017 Kia Sportage — MOT failures & pass rate
207,458 MOT tests on the 2017 Kia Sportage are in this dataset, and 87.4% of them passed. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (11.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (5.8%) and tyres (4.8%) 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 8,604 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.2% once past 150k — 3.0× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 12.2% of the time against 12.9% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 5.8% | 12,037 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.8% | 9,995 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.8% | 7,944 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 4,908 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 2,160 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 1,936 |
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 | 8,604 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 8,277 |
| 3 | Wipers | 6,466 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 3,877 |
| 5 | Washers | 3,043 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 2,220 |
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 | 27.0% | 55,942 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.9% | 43,293 |
| 3 | Other defects | 10.3% | 21,307 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.4% | 9,061 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 6,584 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 1,971 |
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 | 34,281 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 109,741 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 51,280 | 16.7% |
| 90-120k | 10,279 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,519 | 20.0% |
| 150k+ | 349 | 21.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 129,121 | 12.9% |
| Petrol | 78,335 | 12.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 40,287 | 9.3% |
| 2022 | 41,050 | 11.0% |
| 2023 | 41,485 | 12.6% |
| 2024 | 42,156 | 14.4% |
| 2025 | 42,480 | 15.6% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Sportage
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 5.8% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (5.8% 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.
- Tyres (4.8% 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 (3.8% 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 2017 Kia Sportages pass their MOT?
87.4% of the 207,458 2017 Kia Sportage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Kia Sportage?
Brakes, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by tyres (4.8%).
Does the 2017 Sportage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 21.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 207,458 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.