2021 Hyundai Kona — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 12,674 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Hyundai Kona, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 92.2% was in line with the average for small SUVs of a similar age (93.1%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.7% | 723 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 464 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.8% | 349 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.7% | 89 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 25 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.2% | 20 |
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 | 651 |
| 2 | Wipers | 345 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 325 |
| 4 | Washers | 67 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 59 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 32 |
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 | 20.7% | 2,626 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.0% | 766 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.7% | 727 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 370 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.8% | 103 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.7% | 90 |
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 | 5,739 | 5.5% |
| 30-60k | 5,389 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,148 | 9.2% |
| 90-120k | 289 | 7.6% |
| 120-150k | 64 | 9.4% |
| 150k+ | 45 | 6.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | 12,256 | 7.8% |
| Petrol | 307 | 5.5% |
| Hybrid | 111 | 9.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 194 | 2.1% |
| 2023 | 518 | 3.1% |
| 2024 | 5,908 | 7.2% |
| 2025 | 6,043 | 8.9% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Kona
Before buying a 2021 Hyundai Kona, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.7% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.8% 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.
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 2021 Hyundai Konas pass their MOT?
92.2% of the 12,674 2021 Hyundai Kona MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Hyundai Kona?
Tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.7%).
Does the 2021 Kona get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.5% in the 0-30k band to 6.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,674 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.