2023 Kia Sportage petrol: common problems and MOT failures
What MOT testers find on the petrol Kia Sportage first registered in 2023 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 367 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
Small sample: there were only 367 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.
Common 2023 Kia Sportage petrol MOT failures and advisories
The share of 2023 Kia Sportage petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Tyres10% 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.
- Wipers, windscreen and mirrors5% of testsRough price £15–£250
At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
- Brakes5% 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.
- Lights and electrics3% of testsRough price £10–£80
At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Seats and seatbelts1% of testsRough price £80–£250
At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.
Known faults on the 2023 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.
- 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
Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2023 Kia Sportage petrol
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- Has Kia applied the engine software update for the vacuum pump? Has the brake pedal ever gone hard?
- 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
| 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 |
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 2023. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score