2021 Kia Sorento 3 Hev Auto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 838 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Kia Sorento 3 Hev Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, lighting & signalling and tyres. Its pass rate of 89.5% was below the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.4% | 37 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 35 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.8% | 32 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 10 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 7 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 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 | 46 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 19 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 14 |
| 4 | Front fog lamp switch | 11 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 11 |
| 6 | Front fog lamps | 10 |
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 | 22.6% | 189 |
| 2 | Other defects | 14.1% | 118 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 53 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 31 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.5% | 29 |
| 6 | Brakes | 2.0% | 17 |
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 | 413 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 382 | 12.6% |
| 60-90k | 35 | 11.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 413 | 11.1% |
| 2025 | 404 | 9.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Sorento 3 Hev Auto
Before buying a 2021 Kia Sorento 3 Hev Auto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 4.4% of tests for this year.
- Visibility (4.4% 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.
- 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.
- Tyres (3.8% 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.
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 Sorento 3 Hev Autos pass their MOT?
89.5% of the 838 2021 Kia Sorento 3 Hev Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Kia Sorento 3 Hev Auto?
Visibility, recorded in 4.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.2%).
Does the 2021 Sorento 3 Hev Auto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 11.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 838 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.