2004 KIA Sorento 2.5L Diesel · RX04 CVT

The 2004 Kia Sento is currently unroadworthy, having failed its most recent MOT on 28 June 2022 at 142,610 miles. The maintenance trend is clearly worsening. That 2022 failure was severe, listing 21 separate defects including a likely-to-detach rear suspension arm mounting, corroded fuel pipes, excessively worn anti-roll bar linkages, and a non-functioning seat belt. The vehicle has sat unused for nearly four years since that failure, with no subsequent MOT recorded, meaning its structural and mechanical condition may have deteriorated further through standing corrosion. The mileage pattern tells a story of recent dormancy. Between the November 2019 pass at 136,577 miles and the January 2021 test at 139,469 miles, the vehicle covered roughly 2,892 miles in just over a year. However, the odometer then sat at 142,610 miles for the June 2022 failure and has not moved since. That gap of over four years without a new MOT strongly suggests the vehicle has been parked, potentially allowing brake seizure, tyre perishing, and moisture ingress into mechanical components. A buyer must treat this vehicle as a structural project requiring a full underbody inspection before any road use. The recurring corrosion across all four coil springs, the rear subframe mountings, and the front subframe indicates systemic rust throughout the suspension architecture. The fractured and likely-to-detach rear suspension arm brackets are critical structural failures that demand immediate welding or replacement. The corroded fuel pipes present a fire risk and must be replaced. Brake discs were worn and pitted in 2022, and after four years of standing, the calipers will almost certainly be seized and the discs heavily corroded. Beyond the structural concerns, the 2022 failure flagged a non-functioning seat belt, an SRS warning lamp, and headlamp lens degradation, all of which require rectification before the vehicle can pass a fresh MOT. The oil leak noted in 2022 may have worsened if the engine has not been run regularly, potentially damaging seals and gaskets. This vehicle is only suitable for a buyer prepared to address extensive corrosion, suspension component replacement, and brake overhaul before it can be considered safe for the road.