2020 Kia Sorento 3 Crdi S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 623 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Kia Sorento 3 Crdi S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility. Its pass rate of 90.4% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 23.3% in the 60-90k group versus 7.2% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

623

MOT tests analysed

9.6%

Fail rate

in line with

vs cars of similar age

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2020 Kia Sorento 3 Crdi S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Lighting & signalling	4.7%	29
2	Tyres	3.7%	23
3	Visibility	1.9%	12
4	Brakes	1.6%	10
5	Suspension	1.4%	9
6	Emissions & environmental	0.3%	2

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2020 Kia Sorento 3 Crdi S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Wipers	12
2	Front fog lamps	12
3	Rear fog lamp	12
4	Pins and bushes	12
5	Tread depth	11
6	Headlamp aim	11

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2020 Kia Sorento 3 Crdi S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Brakes	19.1%	119
2	Tyres	17.7%	110
3	Other defects	6.7%	42
4	Suspension	3.4%	21
5	Visibility	2.7%	17
6	Emissions & environmental	1.8%	11

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2020 Sorento 3 Crdi S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	276	7.2%
30-60k	303	9.9%
60-90k	43	23.3%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2020 Sorento 3 Crdi S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	191	6.3%
2024	216	10.2%
2025	214	12.2%

What to check before buying a 2020 Sorento 3 Crdi S-A

Before buying a 2020 Kia Sorento 3 Crdi S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 4.7% of tests for this year.

Lighting & signalling (4.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Tyres (3.7% 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 (1.9% 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 2020 Kia Sorento 3 Crdi S-As pass their MOT?

90.4% of the 623 2020 Kia Sorento 3 Crdi S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.6% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Kia Sorento 3 Crdi S-A?

Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by tyres (3.7%).

Does the 2020 Sorento 3 Crdi S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 23.3% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 623 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.