2017 KIA Sportage 1.6L Petrol · LM66 VSP

A recurring pattern of premature tyre wear and brake component depletion sits at the centre of this Kia Sportage's MOT history, with three of the five tests on record producing dangerous failures. The most recent activity on 1 April 2026 followed a dangerous failure on 27 March 2026 for front brake pad thickness falling below 1.5 mm, a threshold that represents significant wear on the friction material and reduced stopping authority. Prior to that, the May 2025 test cycle saw both rear tyres failed for tread depth below the 1.6 mm legal minimum, and the October 2023 visit combined a dangerous failure on both front tyres with advisories for the rear pair sitting close to the limit. Combined with the 2026 advisory noting the rear brake pads were already wearing thin after a recent replacement, the picture points to consumables wearing out at a faster rate than average annual mileage would normally produce, and the geometry comments about distorted inner rear edges raise questions about wheel alignment or suspension geometry that have not been resolved across two consecutive tests. Mileage on this nine-year-old Sportage stands at 39,798 miles, equating to approximately 4,422 miles per year over its recorded life, which is at the lower end of typical use for a vehicle of this age. There is a notable gap between the August 2020 test and the October 2023 test, a period of just over three years during which the vehicle accumulated mileage but saw no recorded MOT activity, and the subsequent test cycle shows the tyres and brakes reaching legal intervention points within relatively short intervals. Lower annual mileage can reduce wear on high-mileage components such as the engine, clutch, and transmission internals, but it often coincides with extended standing periods that bring their own concerns, and the rapid consumption of tyre tread across three test cycles suggests the vehicle has been driven in conditions or with geometry settings that accelerate rubber wear regardless of overall distance covered. For a prospective buyer, the priorities on inspection should centre on the braking system and the suspension geometry that the rear tyre distortion advisories imply. On a test drive, the brake pedal should feel firm with no excessive travel, and there should be no pulling to one side under braking which would indicate a binding caliper or uneven pad wear following the recent front pad replacement; the car should also stop in a straight line without judder through the pedal, as warped or unevenly worn discs are a common consequence of pad material being allowed to wear to the dangerous threshold. Listen for clonks or knocks from the front suspension over speed bumps and uneven road surfaces, and pay particular attention to tracking, because the repeated inner-edge wear on the rear tyres strongly suggests the rear wheel alignment, and possibly the front alignment, has not been corrected. Uneven tyre wear across an axle is frequently linked to worn trailing arm bushes, weak coil springs, or bent subframe mounting points on SUVs of this age, and a thorough inspection on a ramp should confirm the condition of these components before purchase. Finally, confirm the provenance of the recent brake and tyre work. Ask for invoices showing the brake pads fitted on the front axle and any discs or caliper refurbishment carried out at the same time, as pads worn down to 1.1 mm typically coincide with heavily scored discs that require replacement rather than just pad renewal. Verify the date codes on all four tyres to ensure the replacements made after the dangerous failures are current and from a reputable manufacturer, as budget tyres or part-worn fitments are a frequent reason for repeat premature wear. The vehicle's roadworthiness at the 1 April 2026 test was recorded as compliant, but the underlying pattern of consumable wear, the unresolved geometry issue on the rear tyres, and the multi-year gap in testing history together warrant a careful physical inspection rather than reliance on the test pass alone.