2021 Hyundai Kona — MOT failures & pass rate
36,550 MOT tests on the 2021 Hyundai Kona are in this dataset, and 91.5% of them passed. Against small SUVs of a similar age (7.1% fail rate), the 2021 Kona comes out 1.4pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.3%) 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 headlamp aim, wipers and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,467 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 Kona fails 6.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.8 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 7.1% fail against 9.3% for hybrid, a 2.2-point gap across 20,046 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 2.2% of tests failed in 2022 against 9.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.3% | 1,957 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.2% | 1,170 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 1,114 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 399 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 217 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 60 |
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 | 1,467 |
| 2 | Wipers | 1,223 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 667 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 296 |
| 5 | Washers | 201 |
| 6 | Electronic parking brake | 137 |
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 | 21.8% | 7,966 |
| 2 | Other defects | 6.0% | 2,202 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.7% | 2,087 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 1,041 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.8% | 1,034 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.8% | 280 |
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 | 20,657 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 13,472 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,877 | 10.8% |
| 90-120k | 396 | 9.8% |
| 120-150k | 81 | 8.6% |
| 150k+ | 67 | 10.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 19,226 | 9.3% |
| Electric | 16,504 | 7.7% |
| Petrol | 820 | 7.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 273 | 2.2% |
| 2023 | 883 | 4.5% |
| 2024 | 17,514 | 8.0% |
| 2025 | 17,866 | 9.3% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Kona
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.3% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.3% 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 (3.0% 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 2021 Hyundai Konas pass their MOT?
91.5% of the 36,550 2021 Hyundai Kona MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Hyundai Kona?
Tyres, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by visibility (3.2%).
Does the 2021 Kona get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 10.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 36,550 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.