Kia Sportage (2017)
2017 Kia Sportage
CarHunch analysed 37,430 real MOT records for the 2017 Kia Sportage. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2017 Kia Sportage passes its MOT significantly better than average—87.4% first-time pass rate versus the UK average of 80%—but a concerning 34% of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects at some point, which is well above what you'd typically see. This reliability edge is consistent across both diesel (87.3%) and petrol (87.6%) versions, suggesting the platform itself is sound rather than fuel-type dependent.
At nearly 48,000 miles median mileage for a seven-year-old car, these Sportages have been driven normally and show it through an average of 7.8 advisories per vehicle—mostly wear items rather than structural problems. With only 1.02 failures per vehicle on average, a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the dangerous-defect history (suspension, steering, braking) is your practical safeguard before committing to one.
What to check before buying a 2017 Kia Sportage
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 34% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Kia Sportage
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (63%) | 23,547 | 87.3% | 1.02 |
| Petrol (37%) | 13,880 | 87.6% | 1.01 |
| Other (0%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
| Diesel (0%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
| Hybrid Electric (Clean) (0%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2017 Kia Sportage vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2017 Kia Sportage vehicles fall between 37,810 and 59,722 miles.
2017 Kia Sportage — Still on the Road
Strong survival — 34,950 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 97% of the peak.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2020–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2017 Kia Sportage
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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48.2%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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48.2%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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37.7%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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34.4%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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32.4%
Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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31.1%
Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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24.1%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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22.3%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2017. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Kia Sportage?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.