2005 Kia Sorento MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 52.8% of Kia Sorentos first used in 2005 passed their MOT first time, against 57.6% for all cars first used in 2005. Across 2,834 Sorento first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, brakes and suspension.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Kia Sorentos first used in 2005 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
52.8%
of 644 first tests; all cars first used in 2005: 57.6%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
2,834
first tests, 2023–2025; 644 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
17.2%
of 644 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
113,000
middle half: 92,500–133,000 miles; all cars first used in 2005: 105,500

How the 2005 Kia Sorento MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Sorentos first used in 2005 against all cars first used in 2005 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Sorento figure was 4.8 points lower.

2005 SorentoAll cars first used in 2005
40%50%60%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2005, test year 2021: 54.6%All cars first used in 2005, test year 2022: 55.7%All cars first used in 2005, test year 2023: 56.3%All cars first used in 2005, test year 2024: 56.5%All cars first used in 2005, test year 2025: 57.6%2005 Sorento, test year 2021: 47.8%2005 Sorento, test year 2022: 50.5%2005 Sorento, test year 2023: 52.2%2005 Sorento, test year 2024: 53.3%2005 Sorento, test year 2025: 52.8%57.6%52.8%
View this chart as a table
Test year2005 SorentoAll cars first used 2005Sorento first tests
202147.8%54.6%2,479
202250.5%55.7%1,826
202352.2%56.3%1,277
202453.3%56.5%913
202552.8%57.6%644

Common 2005 Kia Sorento MOT failures

Share of the 1,341 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment51.8%
Brakes44.7%
Suspension40.5%
Body, chassis, structure32.7%
Steering18.2%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems16.3%
Visibility14.4%
Noise, emissions and leaks9.9%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Position lamp: not working14.0%188
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect13.1%176
Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play12.8%172
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength12.8%172
Stop lamp: not working11.5%154

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2005 Kia Sorento before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.
  3. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.

Common 2005 Kia Sorento MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2005 Sorentos, as a share of all 2,834 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material19.2%545
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge16.6%471
Brake pads: wearing thin9.9%281
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive9.9%280
Linkage ball joints: ball joint has slight play9.0%256

Questions about the 2005 Kia Sorento MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2005 Kia Sorento?

In 2025, 52.8% of Sorentos first used in 2005 passed their MOT first time, against 57.6% for all cars first used in 2005. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2005 Sorento most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 51.8% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), brakes (44.7%) and suspension (40.5%). The single most common item was “Position lamp: not working” (14.0%).

How often does a 2005 Kia Sorento fail its MOT?

In 2025, 47.2% of first tests on Sorentos first used in 2005 did not pass first time: 39.9% failed, and a further 7.3% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 1,341 of 2,834 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2005 Kia Sorento MOT advisories?

“Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (on 19.2% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (16.6%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (9.9%), “Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (9.9%) and “Linkage ball joints: ball joint has slight play” (9.0%).

Is a 2005 Kia Sorento reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 47.8% in 2021 to 52.8% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2005

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2005 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2005 MINI Hatch MOT statistics · 2005 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2005 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2005 Toyota Yaris MOT statistics

How the 2005 Kia Sorento MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2005 Sorento” means a Kia Sorento whose date of first use falls in 2005 (54, 05 and 55 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2005, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.