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Common problems by part

Kia Sportage steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 141,166 MOT tests · Updated

At 6 years, 0.7 in 100 MOT tests of the Kia Sportage failed on steering, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 141,166 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 978 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 17 ages from 3 to 19 years, 1,070,582 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Steering track rod end: ball joint play, 0.5 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.7 fails per 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 6 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

Kia Sportage steering fails by age

Kia Sportage steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Kia Sportage. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.02463 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.1), 111,057 MOT tests34 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 113,889 MOT tests5 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 122,984 MOT tests56 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 141,166 MOT tests7 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 129,090 MOT tests78 years: 1.3 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 114,123 MOT tests9 years: 3.4 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 95,366 MOT tests910 years: 4.1 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 71,222 MOT tests11 years: 5.4 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 57,633 MOT tests1112 years: 5.9 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 42,623 MOT tests13 years: 4.3 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 27,158 MOT tests1314 years: 4.2 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 15,990 MOT tests15 years: 4.9 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 9,825 MOT tests1516 years: 4.5 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 6,959 MOT tests17 years: 3.7 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 5,850 MOT tests1718 years: 4.0 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 3,611 MOT tests19 years: 2.8 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 2,036 MOT tests19
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Kia Sportage All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
3111,0570.20.1
4113,8890.60.2
5122,9840.80.3
6141,1660.70.5
7129,0900.70.8
8114,1231.31.2
995,3663.41.8
1071,2224.12.1
1157,6335.42.5
1242,6235.92.8
1327,1584.32.9
1415,9904.23.2
159,8254.93.3
166,9594.53.4
175,8503.73.6
183,6114.03.9
19*2,0362.84.1

All first-use years of the Kia Sportage pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the steering at 6 years

Fails

  • Steering track rod end: ball joint play: 0.5 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.2. Replace track rod end: estimated £54–£128 (0.5–1 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts £15–£50) Track rod end ball joint has excessive play MOT fail

Advisories (not fails)

Replace track rod end cost

Repair figures are estimates, not quotes: how we estimate repair costs.

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

By engine and fuel

  • 1.6 petrol: 0.7 per 100 at 6 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 66,044 MOT tests)
  • 1.7 diesel: 0.4 per 100 at 6 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 42,490 MOT tests)
  • 2.0 diesel: 0.6 per 100 at 6 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 19,546 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Track rod end: ball joint has slight play.

Check one Kia Sportage, not the average

The figures here describe Kia Sportage cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Kia Sportage problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Kia Sportage have more steering problems than other cars?

0.7 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 141,166 MOT tests).

How common are Kia Sportage steering problems?

0.7 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years failed on steering, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 141,166 MOT tests).

What is the most common Kia Sportage steering fail?

0.5 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years: Steering track rod end: ball joint play (769 MOT tests with it).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 1,070,582 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
  2. Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, local price quotes (car repair items). ONS price quotes, series 610236. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare