Hyundai Sonata MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 32 model years and 4,136 tests, the Hyundai Sonata passes its MOT 74.9% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail at 26.0%, so the Sonata sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.8% of tests against 11.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, headlamp aim and position lamp — stop lamp alone was recorded 243 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.7% in the 0-30k band and 31.6% in the 150k+ band, a 16.0-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 24.0% fail against 27.5% for diesel, a 3.5-point gap across 4,098 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.4% in 2021 to 22.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Sonata model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 33 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Suspension |
| 2000 | 30 | 76.7% | 23.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 48 | 81.3% | 18.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 127 | 82.7% | 17.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 247 | 76.5% | 23.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 286 | 76.6% | 23.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 693 | 72.2% | 27.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 830 | 74.1% | 25.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 700 | 77.3% | 22.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 314 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 363 | 75.2% | 24.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 162 | 75.9% | 24.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 30 | 60.0% | 40.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 31 | 77.4% | 22.6% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 694 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.3% | 467 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.2% | 340 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.7% | 276 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.7% | 234 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 198 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 134 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.7% | 69 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 243 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 238 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 205 |
| 4 | Wipers | 195 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 182 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 175 |
| 7 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 151 |
| 8 | Rbt (sp) | 139 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 35.1% | 1,454 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.0% | 1,322 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.9% | 1,113 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 712 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.5% | 641 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.9% | 617 |
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 | 115 | 15.7% |
| 30-60k | 803 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,473 | 25.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,046 | 27.3% |
| 120-150k | 464 | 29.3% |
| 150k+ | 231 | 31.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,764 | 24.0% |
| Diesel | 1,334 | 27.5% |
| Hybrid | 32 | 21.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,186 | 25.4% |
| 2022 | 953 | 24.8% |
| 2023 | 794 | 25.9% |
| 2024 | 679 | 26.4% |
| 2025 | 524 | 22.3% |
What to check before buying a Hyundai Sonata
- Lighting & signalling (16.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (8.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 Sonata?
74.9% of the 4,136 Hyundai Sonata MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 25.1% fail rate, across model years 1991–2022.
What does the Hyundai Sonata most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.8% of tests, then brakes (11.3%).
How much does mileage affect Sonata MOT results?
Fail rates run at 15.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 31.6% for 150k+, a 16.0-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Sonata more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 24.0% of the time against 27.5% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,136 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.