2020 Hyundai Kona — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 39,589 MOT tests, the 2020 Hyundai Kona recorded a 91.6% pass rate. Small SUVs of a similar age fail at 7.9%, so the 2020 Kona sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.9%) and visibility (3.4%) 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 1,321 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 Kona fails 6.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.0 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — electric fails 8.1% of the time against 8.9% for hybrid.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 3.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.9% | 1,940 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.4% | 1,330 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 910 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.2% | 485 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 266 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 96 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,321 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 829 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 772 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 311 |
| 5 | Washers | 249 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 204 |
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 | 22.3% | 8,846 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.0% | 2,754 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.7% | 2,268 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.0% | 1,177 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 1,100 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.9% | 356 |
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 | 21,888 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 14,516 | 10.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,396 | 11.6% |
| 90-120k | 526 | 11.0% |
| 120-150k | 172 | 10.5% |
| 150k+ | 91 | 7.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 14,721 | 8.9% |
| Electric | 14,061 | 8.1% |
| Petrol | 10,802 | 8.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 223 | 3.6% |
| 2022 | 775 | 3.9% |
| 2023 | 12,723 | 6.8% |
| 2024 | 12,813 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 13,055 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Kona
On a 2020 Kona, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.9% 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 (3.4% 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 (2.3% 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
How many 2020 Hyundai Konas pass their MOT?
91.6% of the 39,589 2020 Hyundai Kona MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Hyundai Kona?
Tyres, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by visibility (3.4%).
Does the 2020 Kona get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 7.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 39,589 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.