Kia Sportage (2012)
2012 Kia Sportage
CarHunch analysed 13,836 real MOT records for the 2012 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 2012 Kia Sportage's 78.5% pass rate sits just below the UK average of 80%, a modest gap that masks a serious concern: over half of these vehicles (52.2%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point. Diesel models, which make up the vast majority, fare slightly worse at 78.2% versus petrol's 80.4%, so fuel choice does matter a little here.
At 70,000 miles median mileage, these Sportages are showing their age fairly heavily, yet they're averaging 3.09 failures and 19 advisories per test—suggesting wear rather than catastrophic decline. The high advisory count reflects cumulative minor issues (trim, seals, corrosion) rather than sudden failure, which is typical for a 12-year-old SUV. Before buying one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focused on brake systems and suspension, as dangerous defects are far too common in this cohort to overlook.
The 2012 Kia Sportage has a decent first-time pass rate (78.5%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.
These stats describe 13,836 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 13,836 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2012.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 13,836 Kia Sportage cars.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 2.2 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
Before you buy a 2012 Kia Sportage
Based on MOT data from 13,836 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
52.2% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (87%) | 12,000 | 78.2% | 3.14 |
| Petrol (13%) | 1,835 | 80.4% | 2.78 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 289,401 Kia Sportage vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 2012 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 2012 Kia Sportage vehicles fall between 56,211 and 85,379 miles.
2012 Kia Sportage — Still on the Road
Most 2012 Kia Sportages are still being driven.
Strong survival — 11,566 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 87% of the peak.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* 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
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Compare with another model
See how the 2012 Kia Sportage stacks up against a rival.