2023 Kia Sportage — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,036 MOT tests, the 2023 Kia Sportage recorded a 95.7% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 5.5% of the time, so this is 1.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (2.7%) and tyres (2.2%) 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 malfunction indicator lamp — wipers alone was recorded 51 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2023 Sportage fails 3.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 5.1% at 60-90k, a spread of only 1.5 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 9.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 0.0% of tests failed in 2023 against 4.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 2.7% | 55 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.2% | 45 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 36 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.7% | 15 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 11 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.1% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 51 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 35 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 11 |
| 4 | Washers | 8 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 7 |
| 6 | Electronic parking brake | 6 |
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 | 9.4% | 192 |
| 2 | Other defects | 3.9% | 79 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.9% | 39 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 34 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 5 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.1% | 3 |
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 | 1,354 | 3.7% |
| 30-60k | 556 | 5.4% |
| 60-90k | 97 | 5.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 1,644 | 4.2% |
| Petrol | 381 | 4.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 42 | 0.0% |
| 2024 | 224 | 1.8% |
| 2025 | 1,770 | 4.7% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Sportage
On a 2023 Sportage, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (2.7% 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.
- Tyres (2.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.8% 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 2023 Kia Sportages pass their MOT?
95.7% of the 2,036 2023 Kia Sportage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Kia Sportage?
Visibility, recorded in 2.7% of tests, followed by tyres (2.2%).
Does the 2023 Sportage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.7% in the 0-30k band to 5.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,036 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.