2011 Kia Sportage — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 50,311 MOT tests analysed for the 2011 Kia Sportage, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 75.1% was below the average for mid-size SUVs of a similar age (76.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 29.7% in the 150k+ group versus 16.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.5% | 6,790 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.7% | 5,374 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 3,561 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.7% | 2,852 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 1,962 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.2% | 1,103 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 2,555 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,516 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 2,419 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 2,109 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 2,106 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 1,723 |
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 | 29.9% | 15,027 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.0% | 13,088 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.0% | 13,079 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 5,884 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.3% | 5,179 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 2,644 |
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 | 428 | 16.4% |
| 30-60k | 3,990 | 16.9% |
| 60-90k | 15,217 | 22.2% |
| 90-120k | 18,633 | 26.6% |
| 120-150k | 8,918 | 28.4% |
| 150k+ | 3,118 | 29.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 41,738 | 25.3% |
| Petrol | 8,573 | 23.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,271 | 21.9% |
| 2022 | 10,361 | 23.7% |
| 2023 | 10,275 | 25.4% |
| 2024 | 9,961 | 26.7% |
| 2025 | 9,443 | 27.2% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Sportage
Before buying a 2011 Kia Sportage, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 13.5% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (13.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (10.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (7.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2011 Kia Sportages pass their MOT?
75.1% of the 50,311 2011 Kia Sportage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Kia Sportage?
Suspension, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by brakes (10.7%).
Does the 2011 Sportage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.4% in the 0-30k band to 29.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 50,311 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.