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

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. The Kia Sedona sits 16 points below the national average, ranked 1,940 of 2,005 models. On one bought as 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 recorded closing bids for damaged Kia Sedonas at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Kia Sedona

1. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 3.9% of tests (11.22x the national rate for this defect)
2. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 4.6% of tests (4.4x the national rate for this defect)
3. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 4% of tests (3.72x the national rate for this defect)
4. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 4.4% of tests (3.59x the national rate for this defect)
5. 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, 3.1% of tests (3.31x the national rate for this defect)
6. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 4.1% of tests (2.98x the national rate for this defect)
7. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 6.1% of tests (2.75x the national rate for this defect)
8. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 3.5% of tests (2.68x the national rate for this defect)
9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 11.9% of tests (2.36x the national rate for this defect)
10. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 3.9% of tests (2.06x the national rate for this defect)

From 5,154 DVSA-tracked Kia Sedona tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.06% of these flagged Kia Sedona defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Kia Sedona

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Kia Sedona before it actually fails on it.

1. Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning, 4.3% of tests (18x the national rate for this advisory)
2. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 24.8% of tests (4.78x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 7.5% of tests (3.73x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 17.2% of tests (3.65x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 4.4% of tests (3.52x the national rate for this advisory)
6. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 18% of tests (2.91x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
7. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 3.8% of tests (2.8x the national rate for this advisory)
8. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 15.5% of tests (2.79x the national rate for this advisory)
9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 35.3% of tests (2.64x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
10. 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, 3.7% of tests (2.47x the national rate for this advisory), also fails

From 5,154 DVSA-tracked Kia Sedona tests, 2024.

Kia Sedona pass rate by model year

From its 2005 to its 2011 model year, the Kia Sedona's first-time pass rate has risen 8.4 points, from 59.8% to 68.2%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. 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
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

Embed this data

Run a site about the Kia Sedona? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/kia-sedona"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/kia-sedona.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="Kia Sedona MOT Pass Rate: 60.7% - Salvage Prophet"></a>

Run a garage or parts site? Embed the Kia Sedona's top real failure reason instead, linked back here.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/kia-sedona"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/kia-sedona.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="Kia Sedona most common MOT failure: A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded (3.9% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate