Kia Sportage (2003)
2003 Kia Sportage
CarHunch analysed 1,529 real MOT records for the 2003 Kia Sportage.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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The 2003 Kia Sportage has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 70.8%, notably below the UK average of 80%, which signals below-average reliability for its age. More concerning is that nearly a third of these vehicles (30.8%) have recorded at least one dangerous defect during testing, making this a significant buyer concern—you should factor in potential safety remediation costs before purchase.
At an average mileage of 58,074 miles for a 21-year-old vehicle, these Sportages have been reasonably well-looked-after, yet they still average 4.12 failures per MOT, suggesting mechanical wear is catching up fast. The high advisory count of 18.7 per vehicle points to accumulated minor issues typical of older SUVs; have any potential purchase thoroughly inspected by a Kia-familiar mechanic and budget for near-term repairs.
The 2003 Kia Sportage has a below-average first-time pass rate (70.8% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.
These stats describe 1,529 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.
What tends to go wrong
Across 1,529 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,529 Kia Sportage cars.
Before you buy a 2003 Kia Sportage
Based on MOT data from 1,529 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
30.8% 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. -
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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
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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
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (99%) | 1,520 | 70.8% | 4.12 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 289,401 Kia Sportage vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 2003 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.
Half of all 2003 Kia Sportage vehicles fall between 45,351 and 68,755 miles.
2003 Kia Sportage — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 5% of 2003 Kia Sportages are still active.
Numbers are declining — 49 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.
* 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
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Compare with another model
See how the 2003 Kia Sportage stacks up against a rival.