2021 Kia Sportage — MOT failures & pass rate
60,670 MOT tests on the 2021 Kia Sportage are in this dataset, and 90.5% of them passed. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (8.1% fail rate), the 2021 Sportage comes out 1.4pp worse. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (5.4%) and tyres (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 3,515 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 Sportage fails 7.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 3.6 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.3% of the time against 9.9% for hybrid.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 5.4% | 3,249 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.4% | 2,075 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.9% | 1,784 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 1,551 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 541 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 296 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 3,515 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,870 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,573 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,053 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 695 |
| 6 | Washers | 592 |
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 | 20.5% | 12,470 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.0% | 7,310 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.2% | 4,992 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.0% | 2,412 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 2,015 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.3% | 761 |
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 | 33,324 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 25,235 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,920 | 13.8% |
| 90-120k | 159 | 11.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 41,173 | 9.3% |
| Hybrid | 19,212 | 9.9% |
| Diesel | 283 | 9.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 38 | 5.3% |
| 2022 | 52 | 5.8% |
| 2023 | 1,895 | 6.8% |
| 2024 | 29,218 | 9.3% |
| 2025 | 29,467 | 9.9% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Sportage
On a 2021 Sportage, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (5.4% 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.
- Tyres (3.4% 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 (2.9% 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.
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 2021 Kia Sportages pass their MOT?
90.5% of the 60,670 2021 Kia Sportage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Kia Sportage?
Visibility, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by tyres (3.4%).
Does the 2021 Sportage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 11.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 60,670 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.