2006 Kia Sorento MOT pass rate: 58.5% (5,195 tests)
Is the 2006 Sorento getting worse?
Pass rate of 2006-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 57.5% -6.8 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 57.3% -6.9 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 62.0% -2.9 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2006 Sorento
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 2,225 | 23.4% |
| 2 | Suspension | 2,019 | 21.2% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,701 | 17.9% |
| 4 | Body, chassis, structure | 1,515 | 15.9% |
| 5 | Steering | 582 | 6.1% |
| 6 | Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 544 | 5.7% |
All Sorento years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1,642 | 56.2% | -8.0 pts | 115,498 |
| 2005 | 2,813 | 59.0% | -5.4 pts | 113,610 |
| 2006 (this page) | 5,195 | 58.5% | -5.9 pts | 114,060 |
| 2007 | 3,585 | 60.6% | -4.5 pts | 110,870 |
| 2008 | 2,681 | 59.2% | -5.9 pts | 106,652 |
| 2009 | 3,734 | 61.8% | -4.7 pts | 103,087 |
| 2010 | 5,374 | 63.8% | -3.5 pts | 111,824 |
| 2011 | 4,734 | 64.9% | -4.3 pts | 106,054 |
| 2012 | 5,580 | 64.6% | -6.6 pts | 102,286 |
| 2013 | 6,258 | 67.9% | -5.4 pts | 94,107 |
| 2014 | 8,570 | 71.8% | -4.0 pts | 83,960 |
| 2015 | 11,779 | 78.0% | -0.8 pts | 77,584 |
| 2016 | 9,306 | 80.1% | -1.2 pts | 68,684 |
| 2017 | 9,193 | 83.3% | -0.7 pts | 59,339 |
| 2018 | 8,104 | 85.8% | -0.5 pts | 50,358 |
| 2019 | 8,137 | 87.2% | -1.2 pts | 39,903 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Kia Sorento years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2006 Kia Sorento reliable?
2006-registered examples passed 58.5% of their MOT tests (5,195 tests, 2023–2025), -5.9 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 20 years old with a median 114,060 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2006 Sorento?
The median tested example shows 114,060 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.