Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2009 Kia Sportage?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2009 Kia Sportage?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2009 Kia Sportage?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2009 Kia Sportage vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

47% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2009 Kia Sportage reliable?

Based on MOT data from 3,844 vehicles, the 2009 Kia Sportage has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2009 Kia Sportage?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2009 Kia Sportage are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (72.7% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (56.5% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (50% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2009 Kia Sportage?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Kia Sportage (2009)

3,844 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76.4% first-time pass rate

2009 Kia Sportage

CarHunch analysed 3,844 real MOT records for the 2009 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 Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2009 Kia Sportage falls just short of the UK average with a 76.3% first-time pass rate, but the real concern is that 47.3% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above what you'd want to see. Diesel versions hold up slightly better at 77.2% pass rate compared to petrol's 74.1%, though both struggle relative to the national benchmark.

These cars average around 71,500 miles, which is reasonable for their age, yet they're racking up nearly 4 failures per test and 24 advisories, suggesting wear is catching up fast. Before buying, get a thorough pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, steering, and brake components—the high dangerous defect rate points to systemic issues in these areas that only a hands-on check will reveal.

The 2009 Kia Sportage has a decent first-time pass rate (76.4%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

76.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

47.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.95

Over 15.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

72k

Middle half: 58k–86k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 24.4 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 3,844 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 3,844 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 2009.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 3,844 Kia Sportage cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 3.1 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

74.1%

Petrol

1,028 vehicles

77.2%

Diesel

2,812 vehicles

Before you buy a 2009 Kia Sportage

Based on MOT data from 3,844 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 47.4% 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 →
📄 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 Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (73%)	2,812	77.2%	3.72
Petrol (27%)	1,028	74.1%	4.57

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%

Beige 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2009 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.

71,535

typical

58,285

low mileage

85,999

high mileage

Half of all 2009 Kia Sportage vehicles fall between 58,285 and 85,999 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 58,285 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.

✓ 58,285–85,999 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2009 Kia Sportages sit.

⚠ Over 116,098 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2009 Kia Sportage — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 47% of 2009 Kia Sportages are still active.

Numbers are declining — 1,733 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (47% of peak).

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

15.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.95

Avg failures per vehicle

24.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Kia Sportage: All Sportage years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2009 Kia Sportage stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing