1997 Kia Sportage — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

58.3%

Latest Pass Rate

2,214

Total Tests (All Years)

97,483 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 20

This car: 58.3%

Average: 56.6%

✅ 1.7% above average (6824 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Kia Sportage as it ages.

12 yrs43.1%

→ ↑2.5%

13 yrs45.6%

→ ↓1.6%

14 yrs44.0%

→ ↑4.8%

15 yrs48.8%

→ ↓3.5%

16 yrs45.3%

→ ↓0.7%

17 yrs44.6%

→ ↓1.6%

18 yrs43.0%

→ ↑4.2%

19 yrs47.2%

→ ↑11.1%

20 yrs58.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	43.1%	606
13 yrs	45.6%	498
14 yrs	44.0%	389
15 yrs	48.8%	244
16 yrs	45.3%	181
17 yrs	44.6%	121
18 yrs	43.0%	86
19 yrs	47.2%	53
20 yrs	58.3%	36

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Kia Sportage pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (20 yrs)	58.3%	36
2016 (19 yrs)	47.2%	53
2015 (18 yrs)	43%	86
2014 (17 yrs)	44.6%	121
2013 (16 yrs)	45.3%	181
2012 (15 yrs)	48.8%	244
2011 (14 yrs)	44%	389
2010 (13 yrs)	45.6%	498
2009 (12 yrs)	43.1%	606

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

43.1%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 606Avg Mileage 86,665Top Failure Suspension — 36.3%

2010High Fail Rate

45.6%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 498Avg Mileage 89,956Top Failure Suspension — 36.9%

2011High Fail Rate

44.0%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 389Avg Mileage 93,565Top Failure Suspension — 41.1%

2012High Fail Rate

48.8%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 244Avg Mileage 97,466Top Failure Suspension — 40.2%

2013High Fail Rate

45.3%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 181Avg Mileage 95,844Top Failure Suspension — 135.4%

2014High Fail Rate

44.6%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 121Avg Mileage 94,753Top Failure Suspension — 96.7%

2015High Fail Rate

43.0%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 86Avg Mileage 94,496Top Failure Suspension — 126.7%

2016High Fail Rate

47.2%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 53Avg Mileage 93,632Top Failure Brakes — 60.4%

2017High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 36Avg Mileage 97,483Top Failure Suspension — 108.3%

MOT results for 1997 Kia Sportage by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	43.1%	606	86,665	Suspension — 36.3%
2010	13	45.6%	498	89,956	Suspension — 36.9%
2011	14	44.0%	389	93,565	Suspension — 41.1%
2012	15	48.8%	244	97,466	Suspension — 40.2%
2013	16	45.3%	181	95,844	Suspension — 135.4%
2014	17	44.6%	121	94,753	Suspension — 96.7%
2015	18	43.0%	86	94,496	Suspension — 126.7%
2016	19	47.2%	53	93,632	Brakes — 60.4%
2017	20	58.3%	36	97,483	Suspension — 108.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Kia Sportage, with age trends.

Suspension

75.4%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

51.5%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

39.9%

↑ Increases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

36.2%

↑ Increases with age

Steering

25.8%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	36.3% (12 yrs)	108.3% (20 yrs)	+72.0%	🔴 ↑
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	26.6% (12 yrs)	38.9% (20 yrs)	+12.3%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	31.8% (12 yrs)	41.7% (20 yrs)	+9.9%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	30.7% (12 yrs)	38.9% (20 yrs)	+8.2%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Kia Sportage page →

About This Data

This page shows how Kia Sportage cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 2,214 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.