Kia Sedona: MOT pass rate and reliability data
The Kia Sedona fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 16 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 5,156 individual Kia Sedona tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.
The numbers
| First-time pass rate | 60.7% |
| UK national average | 76.7% |
| Difference | -16 points |
| Tests analysed | 5,156 |
| Average mileage at test | 99,194 miles |
| Average year of manufacture | 2008 |
| Reliability rank | 1,940 of 2,005 models |
What this means if you are buying one
A 60.7% first-time pass rate means roughly 39 in every 100 Kia Sedonas presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Kia Sedona tested had covered 99,194 miles and was built around 2008.
What this means at salvage auction
Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a Kia Sedona bought as a repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.
Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.
Looking at a specific Kia Sedona rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see what damaged Kia Sedonas actually sold for at UK salvage auction.
Most common MOT failures on a Kia Sedona
- A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 3.5% of tests (12.9x the national rate for this defect)
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 2.4% of tests (6.67x the national rate for this defect)
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.7% of tests (4.79x the national rate for this defect)
- A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 3.5% of tests (3.85x the national rate for this defect)
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 3.1% of tests (3.71x the national rate for this defect)
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 2.8% of tests (3.38x the national rate for this defect)
- Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.1% of tests (3.21x the national rate for this defect)
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 4.8% of tests (2.93x the national rate for this defect)
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2.7% of tests (2.73x the national rate for this defect)
- A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 2.5% of tests (2.59x the national rate for this defect)
From 7,877 DVSA-tracked Kia Sedona tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.11% of these flagged Kia Sedona defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.
Kia Sedona pass rate by model year
Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each Kia Sedona year:
- 2004 Kia Sedona - 49.8% first-time pass, 213 tests
- 2005 Kia Sedona - 59.8% first-time pass, 316 tests
- 2006 Kia Sedona - 55.9% first-time pass, 513 tests
- 2007 Kia Sedona - 61.4% first-time pass, 790 tests
- 2008 Kia Sedona - 58.8% first-time pass, 921 tests
- 2009 Kia Sedona - 62.9% first-time pass, 517 tests
- 2010 Kia Sedona - 64.2% first-time pass, 853 tests
- 2011 Kia Sedona - 68.2% first-time pass, 705 tests
Other Kia models
- Kia Sportage - 79.4%
- Kia Picanto - 75.7%
- Kia Ceed - 71.6%
- Kia Rio - 74.3%
- Kia Niro - 90.3%
- Kia Venga - 78.4%
- Kia Sorento - 72.6%
- Kia Soul - 73.7%
Models with a similar pass rate
- Fiat Doblo Cargo - 61%
- Chrysler Delta - 60.9%
- Peugeot 206 - 60.8%
- Jeep Compass Limited Crd - 60.7%
- Renault Grand Scenic - 60.6%
- Volkswagen Lt - 60.6%
If this car is a salvage or write-off
- What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
- What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
- Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
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