Kia

Kia Sportage (2007)

3,698 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.9% first-time pass rate

2007 Kia Sportage

CarHunch analysed 3,698 real MOT records for the 2007 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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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 2007 Kia Sportage's 73.9% first-time pass rate trails the UK average of 80%, signalling below-average reliability, and nearly half of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant buyer concern. Petrol and diesel variants perform almost identically (73.5% vs 74.1%), so fuel choice won't improve your odds.

These Sportages show typical mileage for their age at around 78,890 miles median, but they're prone to trouble: the average car racks up 4.6 failures and nearly 25 advisories per test, suggesting wear is both frequent and varied. If you're considering this generation, budget for repairs and get a detailed pre-purchase inspection that specifically covers brake and steering systems, where dangerous defects cluster.

The 2007 Kia Sportage has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.9% 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
73.9%
UK average ~80%
Below average
Dangerous (ever)
48.3%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
4.58
Over 16.7 tests on record
High
Typical mileage
79k
Middle half: 64k–94k
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 24.9 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 3,698 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 3,698 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 72.7%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Tyre wear 50%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Other issues 39.5%
Oil leak, but not excessive · Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened
Suspension & steering 33.5%
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · …
Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2007.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 3,698 Kia Sportage cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2007 Kia Sportage

Based on MOT data from 3,698 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 48.3% 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
Diesel (68%) 2,531 74.1% 4.45
Petrol (31%) 1,161 73.5% 4.85

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 2007 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.

78,890
typical
64,329
low mileage
93,851
high mileage

Half of all 2007 Kia Sportage vehicles fall between 64,329 and 93,851 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 64,329 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.
64,329–93,851 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2007 Kia Sportages sit.
Over 126,698 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2007 Kia Sportage — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 25% of 2007 Kia Sportages are still active.

Numbers are declining — 859 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (25% of peak).

3,481 859 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* 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

16.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
4.58
Avg failures per vehicle
24.9
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Kia Sportage: All Sportage years → Which year to buy? →
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Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on