2016 KIA Sportage 1.7L Diesel · SP16 WRW

The Kia Sportage presents a mixed but ultimately concerning maintenance history, with the most recent MOT in April 2025—just three months ago—showing no defects at 96,665 miles. This clean pass suggests the vehicle has been in a stable condition recently, but the pattern leading up to it reveals significant neglect. The October 2023 failure, just 182 miles apart from the previous test, highlights repeated tyre issues alongside a critical front suspension defect: the offside track rod end ball joint exhibited excessive play, a serious fault that could compromise steering precision and wheel alignment. Even after repairs, the October 2023 pass still flagged near-limit tyres, indicating the previous owner either delayed or ignored basic maintenance. The 2022 test exposed further problems—worn suspension bushes across both front and rear trailing arms—yet these were only noted as advisories rather than failures, suggesting they were deemed non-immediate risks. While the 2021 MOT was defect-free, the absence of any recorded work between then and 2022 implies either a lack of proactive servicing or a history of passing tests with unresolved advisories. The vehicle’s mileage accumulation—9,666 miles per year—is typical for its age, but the clustering of faults around the 2022–2023 period suggests either a sudden increase in usage or a deliberate avoidance of addressing minor issues until they became critical. The 5,172-mile jump between the 2021 and 2022 MOTs (67,208 to 73,042 miles) is modest, yet the 2022 test itself reveals a vehicle already on the edge: near-legal tyres, a cut on the nearside rear, and worn suspension components. The fact that these issues persisted into the next test—despite the 5,172-mile interval—points to a lack of follow-up action. By October 2023, the combination of tyre wear, suspension degradation, and the failed track rod end suggests the car was being driven in a compromised state for at least a year before the failure was recorded. For a prospective buyer, the front suspension demands immediate scrutiny. The track rod end ball joint failure in 2023 is a red flag for alignment instability, and while it may have been replaced, the worn trailing arm and lower arm bushes from 2022 indicate broader wear that could affect ride quality and handling. Tyres remain a weak point: the repeated near-limit tread depths and sidewall damage suggest aggressive driving or underinflation, and a buyer should verify if the current tyres are original or have been replaced since 2023. Beyond these, check for signs of corrosion—particularly around wheel arches, sills, and suspension mounts—given the vehicle’s age and the lack of documented rust checks in the MOT history. The absence of emissions-related advisories or exhaust defects is positive, but the overall trend of deferred maintenance on critical components means this Sportage should not be considered a low-risk purchase without a pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension integrity and tyre condition.