2005 Hyundai Sonata — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Hyundai Sonata passed 72.2% of its 693 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail at 27.6%, so the 2005 Sonata sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.6% of all tests — 5.5 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp — stop lamp alone was recorded 48 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 24.8% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 37.5% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 33.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.9% in 2021 to 22.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 115 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.1% | 77 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.4% | 72 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.6% | 53 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.9% | 41 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.8% | 40 |
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 | 48 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 46 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 42 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 40 |
| 5 | Wipers | 31 |
| 6 | Washers | 29 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.8% | 234 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.0% | 222 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.0% | 180 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.6% | 143 |
| 5 | Other defects | 19.2% | 133 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.6% | 94 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 133 | 24.8% |
| 60-90k | 278 | 28.1% |
| 90-120k | 182 | 28.0% |
| 120-150k | 49 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 32 | 37.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 197 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 163 | 30.1% |
| 2023 | 139 | 25.2% |
| 2024 | 118 | 31.4% |
| 2025 | 76 | 22.4% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Sonata
On a 2005 Sonata, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.1% 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 (10.4% 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
How many 2005 Hyundai Sonatas pass their MOT?
72.2% of the 693 2005 Hyundai Sonata MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Hyundai Sonata?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by brakes (11.1%).
Does the 2005 Sonata get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.8% in the 30-60k band to 37.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 693 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.