Part of the Kia Sportage Mk3 (2010–2016) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2011 Kia Sportage petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Kia Sportage first registered in 2011 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 3,949 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,949MOTs of 2011 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
63%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 62%)
7,000typical miles a year
1.7×the usual rate for brake pads

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2011 Kia Sportage petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2011 Kia Sportage petrol than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Brake pads1.7× usual
    Kia Sportage
    16.3% All 2011 cars
    9.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.8%, against 2.3% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Individual direction indicators2.2× usual
    Kia Sportage
    6.7% All 2011 cars
    3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 1.2% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)3.7× usual
    Kia Sportage
    3.7% All 2011 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for an engine warning light.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints1.7× usual
    Kia Sportage
    6.2% All 2011 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 1.4% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 1.7% here, against 7% of all 2011 cars. Sidelights: 0.5% here, against 5.5% of all 2011 cars.

Common 2011 Kia Sportage petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2011 Kia Sportage petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    38% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    35% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    34% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    23% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    12% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Known faults on the 2011 Kia Sportage petrol

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Brake light switch recall

    Built up to Sept 2011

    Cars built up to September 2011 were recalled for a brake light switch that could affect stability control, cruise control and automatic gear selection.

    At the viewing: Ask a Kia dealer to check the VIN.

    Source: Auto Express: used Kia Sportage Mk3 buyer's guide

  • Seatbelt pre-tensioner recall

    Built Aug 2011 to Mar 2012

    Cars built August 2011 to March 2012 were recalled for seatbelt pre-tensioners.

    At the viewing: Ask a Kia dealer to check the VIN.

    Source: Auto Express: used Kia Sportage Mk3 buyer's guide

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2011 Kia Sportage petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Was the brake light switch recall done?
  2. Was the seatbelt recall done?
  3. Any recent work on the brake pads? (Flagged at MOT 1.7× as often on the 2011 Kia Sportage petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the individual direction indicators? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2011 Kia Sportage petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Any recent work on the exhaust emissions (catalyst)? (Flagged at MOT 3.7× as often on the 2011 Kia Sportage petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  6. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Kia Sportage?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Kia Sportage compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
20231,976Tyres 12%
202231,074Tyres 19%
202154,661Tyres 24%
202056,872Tyres 26%
201997,946Tyres 28%
201899,630Tyres 31%
2017108,402Tyres 31%
2016109,730Tyres 31%
201562,005Tyres 33%
201456,529Brakes 34%
201352,926Suspension 38%
201237,383Suspension 41%
201012,119Suspension 48%
20096,726Suspension 52%
20084,342Suspension 55%
20073,919Suspension 57%
20063,321Suspension 58%
20053,558Suspension 58%
2003–Too few tests
2002–Too few tests
2001–Too few tests
2000–Too few tests
1999–Too few tests
1998–Too few tests
1997–Too few tests
1996–Too few tests
1995–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Kia Sportage cars first registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score