2023 Kia Sportage: petrol or diesel?
Petrol, diesel and hybrid versions go wrong in different ways, so each has its own figures from the MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Pick the one you’re looking at: the fuel is on the logbook and in the car’s MOT history.
Diesel versions had too few MOTs for figures of their own, or weren’t sold.
Known faults on every 2023 Kia Sportage
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.
- Mild-hybrid versions
Vacuum pump drive gear damage
On mild-hybrid cars, the starter-generator puts a heavy load on the engine as it starts, which can damage the brake vacuum pump's drive gear. If the pump fails, the brake pedal needs much more force. Kia's fix is an engine ECU software update that softens the load during start-up.
At the viewing: Ask a Kia dealer to confirm the engine software update has been applied. On the test drive, check that the brake pedal feels normal and doesn't go hard.
Source: What Car?: used Kia Sportage (2022-present) reliability
- Some cars
Digital instrument cluster boot errors
On some cars, the digital instrument display failed to start up properly, caused by its software combined with electrical interference when the engine starts. Kia fixed it with a software upgrade for the cluster.
At the viewing: Start the car several times from cold and make sure the instrument display comes on properly every time.
Source: What Car?: used Kia Sportage (2022-present) reliability
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Other years
Every year of the Kia Sportage compared
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | – | Too new for MOT data |
| 2025 | – | Too new for MOT data |
| 2024 | – | Too new for MOT data |
| 2022 | 31,074 | Tyres 19% |
| 2021 | 54,661 | Tyres 24% |
| 2020 | 56,872 | Tyres 26% |
| 2019 | 97,946 | Tyres 28% |
| 2018 | 99,630 | Tyres 31% |
| 2017 | 108,402 | Tyres 31% |
| 2016 | 109,730 | Tyres 31% |
| 2015 | 62,005 | Tyres 33% |
| 2014 | 56,529 | Brakes 34% |
| 2013 | 52,926 | Suspension 38% |
| 2012 | 37,383 | Suspension 41% |
| 2011 | 22,344 | Suspension 44% |
| 2010 | 12,119 | Suspension 48% |
| 2009 | 6,726 | Suspension 52% |
| 2008 | 4,342 | Suspension 55% |
| 2007 | 3,919 | Suspension 57% |
| 2006 | 3,321 | Suspension 58% |
| 2005 | 3,558 | Suspension 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 |