2020 Kia Sorento 3 Hev Auto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 578 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Kia Sorento 3 Hev Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 90.7% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 26 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 24 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.3% | 19 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 5 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 3 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 18 |
| 2 | Front fog lamps | 11 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 11 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 5 | Front fog lamp switch | 8 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 7 |
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 | 21.1% | 122 |
| 2 | Other defects | 9.5% | 55 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 41 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.4% | 31 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.4% | 14 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.4% | 14 |
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 | 223 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 317 | 10.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 183 | 7.6% |
| 2024 | 194 | 9.8% |
| 2025 | 198 | 10.6% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Sorento 3 Hev Auto
Before buying a 2020 Kia Sorento 3 Hev Auto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.5% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (4.5% 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 (4.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.3% 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 Hev Autos pass their MOT?
90.7% of the 578 2020 Kia Sorento 3 Hev Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Kia Sorento 3 Hev Auto?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.2%).
Does the 2020 Sorento 3 Hev Auto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 10.7% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 578 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.