Part of the Kia Sportage Mk4 (2016–2021) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2021 Kia Sportage petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Kia Sportage first registered in 2021 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 37,101 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

37,101MOTs of 2021 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
85%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
7,600typical miles a year
1.8×the usual rate for brake pads

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2021 Kia Sportage petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2021 Kia Sportage petrol than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Brake pads1.8× usual
    Kia Sportage
    10.8% All 2021 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 1.1% of all 2021 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.

  • Wipers2.1× usual
    Kia Sportage
    7.3% All 2021 cars
    3.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.1%, against 2.2% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints4.4× usual
    Kia Sportage
    4% All 2021 cars
    0.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.1% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

Common 2021 Kia Sportage petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2021 Kia Sportage petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    25% 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.

  • Brakes
    15% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Suspension
    6% 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.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    4% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

  • Lights and electrics
    4% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

Known faults on the 2021 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2021 Kia Sportage petrol

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

  1. Any recent work on the brake pads? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the 2021 Kia Sportage petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the wipers? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2021 Kia Sportage petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 4.4× as often on the 2021 Kia Sportage petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  4. 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%
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%
201122,344Suspension 44%
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 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score