Kia
1,481 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Sorento 3 Crdi Awd S As pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 10.7 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
88.3%
Pass-after-fix
3.1%
Fail
7.7%
Avg miles
30,690
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Diesel cars registered from September 2015 generally meet Euro 6 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 1,481 tests
Pass rate climbs 6.3 points across the cohorts — newer Sorento 3 Crdi Awd S A examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
83.9%
Fail
12.2%
PRS
2.6%
Avg mileage at test
34,262 mi
Pass
90.2%
Fail
5.7%
PRS
3.3%
Avg mileage at test
29,095 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 1,481 MOT tests, the Sorento 3 Crdi Awd S-A returns 88.3% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is front or rear fog lamp switch inoperative. Wipers that don't clear the screen and front or rear fog lamp switch inoperative round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 30,690, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
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Front or rear fog lamp switch inoperative or not operating in accordance with the requirements
19 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
17 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
Front or rear fog lamp switch inoperative or not operating in accordance with the requirements
16 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
Wiper blade defective
15 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
15 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
15 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
11 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
10 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
8 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
7 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£40–£90
If every one of this Sorento 3 Crdi Awd S A's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 6.3-point gap between bands means the year you buy Kia Sorento 3 Crdi Awd S A has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.
Best band to buy
90.2%
2021+ registration
the 2021-on band climbs to 90.2% — a 6.3-point improvement. Tests in this band average 29,095 miles — roughly 5K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: does not clear the windscreen effectively, inoperative — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. Post-2020 examples are early in their MOT life and generally show the cleanest records.
Band to be cautious about
83.9%
2018–2020 registration
On the 2018–2020 band, the data shows a 83.9% pass rate against a fleet average of 90.2% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: blade defective, has a cut in excess of the…, and not working. Average mileage on test for this band is 34,262 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2021+ (90.2% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2018-2020 (83.9% pass). That's a 6.3-point spread across 459 older tests and 1,022 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
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Owner reports · Honest John
Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.
What's good
All models in the line-up, including the Sorento ‘2’, feature LED technology for the headlights and rear combination lights, as well as for the daytime running lights, front and rear fog lights and high mounted brake light. 17-inch alloy wheels and a temporary space saver spare wheel are standard equipment, with roof rails not only boosting the the Sorento visually, but also adding versatility if there is ever a need to carry additional loads. A black front radiator grille is married to wheel arch body mouldings and side sills in the same colour, with all versions featuring front and rear skid plates in silver.
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Sorento 3 Crdi Awd S A and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
