Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 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 2013 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 2013 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 2013 Kia Sportage vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

50% 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 2013 Kia Sportage reliable?

Based on MOT data from 19,216 vehicles, the 2013 Kia Sportage has a first-time MOT pass rate of 80.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 Kia Sportage?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Kia Sportage are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (62.4% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (60.3% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (51.2% 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 2013 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 (2013)

19,216 real MOT outcomes analysed • 80.2% first-time pass rate

2013 Kia Sportage

CarHunch analysed 19,216 real MOT records for the 2013 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 2013 Kia Sportage hits the UK average pass rate at 80.2%, which sounds reassuring until you look deeper: nearly half of these vehicles (49.5%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point in their MOT history, a significant buyer concern that warrants a pre-purchase inspection. Diesel and petrol variants perform almost identically, both at around 80%, so fuel type won't be a differentiator for reliability.

These Sportages are running at a median of 65,039 miles, which is typical for a ten-year-old vehicle, but the average of 2.58 failures per test suggests systemic wear issues beyond minor niggles. With 16.6 advisories per vehicle on average, you're looking at a car that needs regular attention to consumables and minor systems—budget accordingly and always get a full inspection history before committing to a purchase.

The 2013 Kia Sportage has a decent first-time pass rate (80.2%), 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

80.2%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

49.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.58

Over 12.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

65k

Middle half: 52k–79k

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 16.6 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 19,216 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 19,216 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 62.4%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 51.2%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 29.8%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Oil leak, but not excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 19,216 Kia Sportage cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Kia Sportage

Based on MOT data from 19,216 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 49.5% 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 (85%)	16,366	80%	2.59
Petrol (15%)	2,849	80.8%	2.55

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 2013 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.

65,039

typical

51,867

low mileage

79,328

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Kia Sportage vehicles fall between 51,867 and 79,328 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 51,867 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.

✓ 51,867–79,328 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Kia Sportages sit.

⚠ Over 107,092 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Kia Sportage — Still on the Road

Most 2013 Kia Sportages are still being driven.

Strong survival — 16,525 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 89% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* 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

12.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.58

Avg failures per vehicle

16.6

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 2013 Kia Sportage stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing