Hyundai Kona MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 9 model years and 174,351 tests, the Hyundai Kona passes its MOT 91.8% of the time. That is effectively the same as small SUVs of a similar age (8.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.5%) and visibility (3.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 5,726 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Kona fails 6.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.2% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.9 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — electric fails 7.6% of the time against 9.1% for hybrid.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Kona model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2,266 | 92.0% | 8.0% | Brakes |
| 2018 | 36,174 | 92.1% | 7.9% | Tyres |
| 2019 | 38,719 | 92.0% | 8.0% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 39,589 | 91.6% | 8.4% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 36,550 | 91.5% | 8.5% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 19,518 | 91.9% | 8.1% | Tyres |
| 2023 | 1,287 | 92.4% | 7.6% | Tyres |
| 2024 | 237 | 94.5% | 5.5% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 7,818 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.2% | 5,657 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 4,413 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.6% | 2,795 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 838 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 671 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 356 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.1% | 184 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 5,726 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 4,572 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 3,322 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,734 |
| 5 | Washers | 1,097 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 846 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 667 |
| 8 | Service brake performance | 640 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.5% | 39,225 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.4% | 16,345 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.2% | 10,847 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 4,912 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.0% | 3,449 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 1,181 |
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 | 97,444 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 65,019 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 9,741 | 12.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,550 | 11.0% |
| 120-150k | 389 | 11.1% |
| 150k+ | 205 | 10.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 81,425 | 8.0% |
| Hybrid | 49,028 | 9.1% |
| Electric | 43,657 | 7.6% |
| Diesel | 236 | 7.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,151 | 5.5% |
| 2022 | 18,136 | 6.0% |
| 2023 | 31,102 | 7.2% |
| 2024 | 48,646 | 8.5% |
| 2025 | 68,316 | 9.3% |
What to check before buying a Hyundai Kona
- Tyres (4.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (3.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (2.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Hyundai Kona?
91.8% of the 174,351 Hyundai Kona MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 8.2% fail rate, across model years 2017–2025.
What does the Hyundai Kona most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, then visibility (3.2%).
How much does mileage affect Kona MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 10.2% for 150k+, a 3.9-point difference.
Is the electric or hybrid Kona more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the electric fails 7.6% of the time against 9.1% for the hybrid. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 174,351 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.