Kia

Kia Sportage (2000)

2,107 real MOT outcomes analysed • 67.2% first-time pass rate

2000 Kia Sportage

CarHunch analysed 2,107 real MOT records for the 2000 Kia Sportage. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page
AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2000 Kia Sportage has a first-time pass rate of 67.2%, notably below the UK average of 80%, which signals genuine reliability concerns for a car of this age. More worryingly, 27.3% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above the threshold where buyers should be cautious about structural, brake, or steering issues.

At 70,569 miles on average, these Sportages show typical mileage for their age, but the real problem is what inspectors find: 3.68 failures per vehicle and 16.2 advisories per car reveal a pattern of accumulated wear and deferred maintenance. Before buying one, have a pre-purchase inspection done by a mechanic you trust, focusing on the steering and suspension components where dangerous defects are most likely to appear.

The 2000 Kia Sportage has a below-average first-time pass rate (67.2% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.
First-time pass
67.2%
UK average ~80%
Below average
Dangerous (ever)
27.3%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
3.68
Over 10.7 tests on record
High
Typical mileage
68k
Middle half: 56k–82k
For context
⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 16.2 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.
🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 2,107 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 2,107 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 64.6%
Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Suspension & steering 64.4%
Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play · …
Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.
Tyre wear 38.5%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Exhaust & emissions 28%
Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases
Other issues 26.5%
Oil leak

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2000.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,107 Kia Sportage cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2000 Kia Sportage

Based on MOT data from 2,107 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 27.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
    Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
  • 🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection ClickMechanic
  • 📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (99%) 2,087 67.1% 3.69

Colour Breakdown

Based on 289,401 Kia Sportage vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 25.4%
73,421
Silver 23.6%
68,276
Black 23.1%
66,759
Blue 9.3%
26,780
Red 8.1%
23,580
Grey 6.9%
19,824
Brown 1.3%
3,899
Orange 1.2%
3,459
Green 0.7%
1,968
Bronze 0.5%
1,326
Purple 0%
56
Beige 0%
53

Mileage Distribution

Most 2000 Kia Sportage vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

68,061
typical
56,375
low mileage
82,401
high mileage

Half of all 2000 Kia Sportage vehicles fall between 56,375 and 82,401 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 56,375 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.
56,375–82,401 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2000 Kia Sportages sit.
Over 111,241 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2000 Kia Sportage — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 5% of 2000 Kia Sportages are still active.

Numbers are declining — 35 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2021 (5% of peak).

637 35 2014 2021

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2021.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

10.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
3.68
Avg failures per vehicle
16.2
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Kia Sportage: All Sportage years → Which year to buy? →
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or browse all models: Kia →

Kia logo

Compare with another model

See how the 2000 Kia Sportage stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on