2018 Kia Sportage — MOT failures & pass rate
188,753 MOT tests on the 2018 Kia Sportage are in this dataset, and 89.1% of them passed. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail at 10.3%, so the 2018 Sportage sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.8%) and brakes (4.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, wipers and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 8,032 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.0% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 10.5% of the time against 11.4% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.8% | 9,020 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.2% | 7,945 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.8% | 7,230 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 3,944 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 1,436 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 1,264 |
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 | 8,032 |
| 2 | Wipers | 6,346 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 6,052 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 3,668 |
| 5 | Washers | 2,305 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 1,472 |
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 | 25.8% | 48,642 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.8% | 33,682 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.7% | 18,324 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.2% | 6,101 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 5,555 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 1,173 |
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 | 63,356 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 95,074 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 25,850 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 3,728 | 18.3% |
| 120-150k | 584 | 17.3% |
| 150k+ | 150 | 18.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 106,285 | 10.5% |
| Diesel | 82,465 | 11.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 37,439 | 8.2% |
| 2022 | 37,446 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 37,712 | 11.1% |
| 2024 | 37,986 | 12.6% |
| 2025 | 38,170 | 13.2% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Sportage
On a 2018 Sportage, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Brakes (4.2% 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.
- 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 2018 Kia Sportages pass their MOT?
89.1% of the 188,753 2018 Kia Sportage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Kia Sportage?
Tyres, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by brakes (4.2%).
Does the 2018 Sportage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 18.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 188,753 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.