2002 Hyundai Amica — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,308 MOT tests, the 2002 Hyundai Amica recorded a 70.8% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail at 29.2%, so the 2002 Amica sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.7% of all tests — 6.0 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, joints and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 291 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.4% versus 18.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 41.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 29.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.7% | 620 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.7% | 420 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.8% | 390 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.6% | 286 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.8% | 259 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.0% | 231 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 291 |
| 2 | Joints | 288 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 254 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 232 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 184 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 170 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 41.2% | 1,362 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.9% | 957 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.6% | 714 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.4% | 641 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.5% | 612 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 15.6% | 515 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 322 | 18.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,444 | 28.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,154 | 31.8% |
| 90-120k | 325 | 35.7% |
| 120-150k | 37 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 977 | 29.7% |
| 2022 | 754 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 635 | 26.9% |
| 2024 | 521 | 31.3% |
| 2025 | 421 | 32.1% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Amica
On a 2002 Amica, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.7% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Brakes (11.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2002 Hyundai Amicas pass their MOT?
70.8% of the 3,308 2002 Hyundai Amica MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Hyundai Amica?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.7% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.7%).
Does the 2002 Amica get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.0% in the 0-30k band to 32.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,308 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.