Kia Sedona (2003)
2003 Kia Sedona
CarHunch analysed 5,491 real MOT records for the 2003 Kia Sedona. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2003 Kia Sedona passes its MOT first time only 66.5% of the time, well below the UK average of 80%, and nearly half of these vehicles (48.5%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant reliability concern for any potential buyer. Diesel and petrol versions perform identically poorly, so fuel type offers no advantage here.
These Sedonas are running at 77,500 miles on average, which is reasonable for a 20-year-old car, but they're averaging nearly 5 failures and 20 advisories per test, indicating chronic wear across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brake and suspension components, which typically drive the high failure count on this generation.
What to check before buying a 2003 Kia Sedona
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 48.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Kia Sedona
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (97%) | 5,300 | 66.5% | 5.01 |
| Petrol (3%) | 191 | 66.2% | 4.41 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2003 Kia Sedona vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2003 Kia Sedona vehicles fall between 60,777 and 89,191 miles.
2003 Kia Sedona — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 185 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 (5% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2022.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2003 Kia Sedona
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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153.9%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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76.5%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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76.3%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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71.4%
Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort
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66.2%
Oil leak
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53.4%
Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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49.5%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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47.5%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Kia Sedona?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.