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What to check: Kia Sorento

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Ranked across all years of the Kia Sorento, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 11.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 5.9%

Brake pipes underneathRuns high on this modelFollow the metal brake lines with a torch where they run along the sills and over the rear axle. White crust or flaking metal means they are corroding, and the online MOT history usually shows the same advisory creeping up for years before the fail.Recorded on 4.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.9%

DampersLook for oil misting on the damper body behind each wheel, then push down hard on each corner of the car. It should settle in one bounce. A floaty or crashy ride on the test drive is the same fault felt from the driver's seat.Recorded on 3.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.3%

Steering playRuns high on this modelWith the engine running and the car parked, waggle the wheel lightly about the straight-ahead. The wheels should respond almost at once. A dead zone before anything happens means wear in the rack or the track rod ends.Recorded on 1.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.4%

Warning lights on ignitionRuns high on this modelTurn the ignition on without starting the engine and watch the dash. Every warning light should appear, then go out once it is running. Be more suspicious of a light that never comes on at all than of one that stays on; warning bulbs have been known to vanish before a sale.Recorded on 1.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.4%

LeaksRuns high on this modelLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 1.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.3%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 29.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 17.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 8.7%

Windscreen and wipersScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 2.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

On a manual, pull away from a stop, especially uphill or simulating a tow, and smell for anything burning.A slipping or smelly clutch points at early dual-mass flywheel or clutch wear.

On a DCT automatic (2021-on), creep at walking pace in traffic or a car park and feel the floor and seat, not just the wheel.A shudder through the body with a still steering wheel is the DCT judder fault.

Cold start the diesel and watch for a rough idle or a flat spot when you first pull away.Both suggest EGR or injector carbon build-up, worse on cars that mostly do short trips.

Turn the wheel lock to lock at low speed, both ways.A clunk or click at the start of the turn means a steering column or coupler fault to get quoted before you buy.

If it has a panoramic sunroof, check the headlining and A/B-pillar trim for water staining.Staining means the drains have blocked and leaked at some point, even if it's dry now.

Check the thickness and condition of the front discs and feel for pulsing when braking hard from speed.Warped or thin discs mean a brake job is due sooner than the mileage suggests.

Read the full MOT history for repeated brake advisories, not just a pass.Recurring brake advisories fit the pattern of this model wearing brakes harder than average.

Full Kia Sorento reliability report