Verdict
The Kia Sedona passes its MOT first time on 52.7% of tests, 4.6 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (57.3%). That puts it ahead of 32% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 2010 Sedona does best (beats 50% of cars) and the 2003 worst (beats 22%).
Better than average on emissions & leaks.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
Best and worst years
By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Engines
All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.9 Diesel | 49.5% | Beats 29% | D |
| 2.2 Diesel | 64.7% | Beats 48% | C |
Where it fails
Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Handbrake performance 2.0× typical
Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope. - Brake lights 1.5× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid. - Suspension ball joints 1.9× typical
Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering. - Track rod ends 1.8× typical
Feel for play or knocking in the steering and check for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres. - Brake performance 1.8× typical
On the test drive, brake firmly: the car should stop straight with no pulsing through the pedal. - Headlight bulbs & units 1.4× typical
Check dipped and main beam on both sides.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidelights | 6.1% | 5.4% | 1.1× |
| Brake lights | 6.0% | 4.0% | 1.5× |
| Handbrake performance | 5.3% | 2.7% | 2.0× |
| Headlight bulbs & units | 5.2% | 3.7% | 1.4× |
| Headlight aim | 4.6% | 5.1% | 0.9× |
| Suspension ball joints | 4.2% | 2.3% | 1.9× |
| Windscreen wipers | 3.9% | 2.9% | 1.4× |
| Track rod ends | 3.9% | 2.2% | 1.8× |
| Tyre damage & cracking | 3.9% | 3.9% | 1.0× |
| Tyre tread depth | 3.8% | 3.5% | 1.1× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 74.6 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 55.2 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 46.4 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 44.3 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 41.9 |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 38.6 |
| Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 38.4 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 38.3 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Every year and engine
Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
2012 Kia Sedona1 engine68.1% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 Diesel | 68.1% | Beats 31% | D |
2011 Kia Sedona1 engine66.0% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 Diesel | 66.0% | Beats 47% | C |
2010 Kia Sedona1 engine62.8% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 Diesel | 62.8% | Beats 50% | C |
2009 Kia Sedona1 engine57.9% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.9 Diesel | 57.9% | Beats 35% | D |
2008 Kia Sedona1 engine52.9% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.9 Diesel | 52.9% | Beats 32% | D |
2007 Kia Sedona1 engine51.9% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.9 Diesel | 51.9% | Beats 34% | D |
2006 Kia Sedona1 engine47.9% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.9 Diesel | 47.9% | Beats 28% | D |
2005 Kia Sedona1 engine45.9% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.9 Diesel | 45.9% | Beats 26% | D |
2004 Kia Sedona1 engine43.1% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.9 Diesel | 43.1% | Beats 23% | D |
2003 Kia Sedona1 engine42.7% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.9 Diesel | 42.7% | Beats 22% | D |
FAQ
What is the Kia Sedona MOT pass rate?
52.7% of MOT tests on the Kia Sedona were passed first time, based on 72,578 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2003–2012. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 57.3% of the time.
Is the Kia Sedona reliable?
On MOT results it rates D (below average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 32% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Kia Sedona year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 2010 Sedona does best for its age and mileage: it beats 50% of cars on UK roads. The 2003 does worst: it beats 22%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Kia Sedona?
The most common failure items are sidelights, brake lights, handbrake performance. Compared with similar cars, prescribed areas comes up 7.2× as often.