2009 Hyundai Sonata — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 363 MOT tests analysed for the 2009 Hyundai Sonata, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 75.2% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (76.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.3% in the 150k+ group versus 19.0% in the 30-60k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.5% | 78 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 51 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.2% | 19 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.0% | 18 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 14 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 9 |
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 | 26 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 26 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 24 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 23 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 19 |
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 | 30.6% | 111 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.2% | 106 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.3% | 92 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 58 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.1% | 44 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 32 |
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 | 100 | 19.0% |
| 60-90k | 118 | 28.0% |
| 90-120k | 59 | 25.4% |
| 120-150k | 32 | 34.4% |
| 150k+ | 31 | 32.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 254 | 22.1% |
| Diesel | 109 | 31.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89 | 28.1% |
| 2022 | 79 | 20.3% |
| 2023 | 74 | 28.4% |
| 2024 | 67 | 25.4% |
| 2025 | 54 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Sonata
Before buying a 2009 Hyundai Sonata, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 21.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (21.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.1% 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 (5.2% 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
How many 2009 Hyundai Sonatas pass their MOT?
75.2% of the 363 2009 Hyundai Sonata MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Hyundai Sonata?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.5% of tests, followed by brakes (14.1%).
Does the 2009 Sonata get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.0% in the 30-60k band to 32.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 363 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.