2007 Hyundai Sonata — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 700 MOT tests, the 2007 Hyundai Sonata recorded a 77.3% pass rate. That is 4.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.1% of all tests — 4.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, service brake performance and position lamp — stop lamp alone was recorded 42 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 30.8% versus 14.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.5% in 2021 to 17.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 113 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.0% | 84 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.1% | 50 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.4% | 45 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 28 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 27 |
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 | 42 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 41 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 36 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 24 |
| 6 | Wipers | 23 |
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 | 37.1% | 260 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.1% | 218 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.1% | 176 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 130 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.9% | 125 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.6% | 81 |
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 | 111 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 209 | 18.7% |
| 90-120k | 192 | 26.6% |
| 120-150k | 106 | 26.4% |
| 150k+ | 65 | 30.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 499 | 24.1% |
| Petrol | 201 | 19.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 200 | 24.5% |
| 2022 | 161 | 22.4% |
| 2023 | 143 | 23.1% |
| 2024 | 106 | 23.6% |
| 2025 | 90 | 17.8% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Sonata
On a 2007 Sonata, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.0% 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 (7.1% 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 2007 Hyundai Sonatas pass their MOT?
77.3% of the 700 2007 Hyundai Sonata MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Hyundai Sonata?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by brakes (12.0%).
Does the 2007 Sonata get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.4% in the 30-60k band to 30.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 700 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.