Kia Sportage 2016: reliability & common MOT faults
Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2016 Kia Sportage include Hand lever (~7.0× peers) and Anti-lock braking system (~7.0× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (8,691 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.
Common faults
These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).
Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.
Based on 8,691 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.
Hand lever
This failure pattern appears about 7.0× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 217 failed first-attempt tests; 2.5% of failed tests for this model year.
Any · 217 failures · ×7.0 vs similar cars · 2.5% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
Anti-lock braking system
This failure pattern appears about 7.0× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 567 failed first-attempt tests; 6.5% of failed tests for this model year.
Any · 567 failures · ×7.0 vs similar cars · 6.5% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
Pins and bushes (rear)
This failure pattern appears about 6.4× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 228 failed first-attempt tests; 2.6% of failed tests for this model year.
Rear · 228 failures · ×6.4 vs similar cars · 2.6% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
| # | Fault pattern | Location | Failures | vs similar cars | Share of fails | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Hand lever
Brakes > Service brake pedal or hand lever > Hand lever
|
Any | 217 | ×7.0 | 2.5% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 2 |
Anti-lock braking system
Brakes > ABS / EBS / ESC > Anti-lock braking system
|
Any | 567 | ×7.0 | 6.5% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 3 |
Pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Pins and bushes
|
Rear | 228 | ×6.4 | 2.6% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 4 |
Parking brake control — Lever
Brakes > Parking brake control > Lever
|
Any | 334 | ×6.0 | 3.8% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 5 |
Parking brake performance
Brakes > Brake performance > Parking brake performance > Rbt > Parking brake performance
|
Any | 193 | ×4.6 | 2.2% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 6 |
Parking brake performance (rear)
Brakes > Brake performance > Parking brake performance > Rbt > Parking brake performance
|
Rear | 219 | ×4.0 | 2.5% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 7 |
Electronic stability control
Brakes > ABS / EBS / ESC > Electronic stability control
|
Any | 293 | ×4.0 | 3.4% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 8 |
Catalyst emissions
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Spark ignition > Catalyst emissions
|
Any | 552 | ×3.2 | 6.4% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 9 |
Rbt (sp)
Brakes > Brake performance > Parking brake efficiency (sp) > Rbt (sp)
|
Any | 770 | ×3.1 | 8.9% | Likely common fault pattern |
Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).
Advisories
Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.
| # | Advisory pattern | Location | Notes | vs similar cars | Share | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Pins and bushes
|
Rear | 408 | ×5.1 | 4.7% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 2 |
Parking brake efficiency (Trikes, quads and pre-68 vehicles)
Brakes > Brake performance > Parking brake performance > Decelerometer > Parking brake efficiency (Trikes, quads and pre-68 vehicles)
|
Any | 21 | ×4.4 | 0.2% | Elevated vs peers |
| 3 |
Side repeaters
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Side repeaters
|
Any | 23 | ×3.7 | 0.3% | Elevated vs peers |
| 4 |
Parking brake efficiency (Trikes, quads and pre-68 vehicles)
Brakes > Brake performance > Parking brake performance > Rbt > Parking brake efficiency (Trikes, quads and pre-68 vehicles)
|
Any | 28 | ×3.7 | 0.3% | Elevated vs peers |
| 5 |
Transmission oil leaks (rear)
Noise, emissions and leaks > Fluid leaks > Transmission oil leaks
|
Rear | 25 | ×2.6 | 0.3% | Elevated vs peers |
| 6 |
Brake pads (rear)
Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake linings and pads > Brake pads
|
Rear | 990 | ×2.0 | 11.4% | Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault |
FAQs
About this data
Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.
PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.
Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).
Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.
Limitations.
- MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
- Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
- Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
- Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.
Display rules config: 1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.