2021 Kia Sorento 4 Phev Auto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 799 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Kia Sorento 4 Phev Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, lighting & signalling and tyres. Its pass rate of 92.4% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 3.6% | 29 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 23 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.0% | 16 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.9% | 7 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 4 |
| 6 | Brakes | 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 | 34 |
| 2 | Front fog lamps | 14 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 10 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 10 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 8 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
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 | 15.9% | 127 |
| 2 | Other defects | 7.5% | 60 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.3% | 26 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.5% | 20 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.6% | 13 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 10 |
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 | 302 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 407 | 7.1% |
| 60-90k | 72 | 11.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 364 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 417 | 6.5% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Sorento 4 Phev Auto
Before buying a 2021 Kia Sorento 4 Phev Auto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 3.6% of tests for this year.
- Visibility (3.6% 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 (2.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.0% 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 4 Phev Autos pass their MOT?
92.4% of the 799 2021 Kia Sorento 4 Phev Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Kia Sorento 4 Phev Auto?
Visibility, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.9%).
Does the 2021 Sorento 4 Phev Auto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.6% in the 0-30k band to 11.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 799 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.