2023 Hyundai Kona — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2023 Hyundai Kona passed 92.4% of its 1,287 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.7 percentage points worse than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 4.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.7%) and lighting & signalling (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 34 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.2% in the 0-30k band and 14.1% in the 60-90k band, a 7.9-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.7% | 61 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 39 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.9% | 25 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.8% | 10 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 5 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 5 |
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 | 34 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 20 |
| 3 | Wipers | 18 |
| 4 | Washers | 11 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 10 |
| 6 | Horn | 7 |
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 | 17.6% | 226 |
| 2 | Other defects | 4.6% | 59 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.5% | 32 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.3% | 29 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 21 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 6 |
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 | 840 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 370 | 9.7% |
| 60-90k | 64 | 14.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | 770 | 6.9% |
| Hybrid | 498 | 8.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 175 | 3.4% |
| 2025 | 1,105 | 8.2% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Kona
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.7% 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 (3.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.9% 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 2023 Hyundai Konas pass their MOT?
92.4% of the 1,287 2023 Hyundai Kona MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Hyundai Kona?
Tyres, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.0%).
Does the 2023 Kona get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 14.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,287 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.