Hyundai Kona: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Hyundai Kona passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 13.9 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 26,119 individual Hyundai Kona tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate90.6%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+13.9 points
Tests analysed26,119
Average mileage at test35,467 miles
Average year of manufacture2019
Reliability rank603 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 90.6% first-time pass rate means roughly 9 in every 100 Hyundai Konas presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Hyundai Kona tested had covered 35,467 miles and was built around 2019.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Hyundai Kona sits 13.9 points above the national average, ranked 603 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Hyundai Kona rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see the median recorded closing bid for a damaged Hyundai Kona: £4,350 at UK salvage auction, from 4 ended listings, not independently confirmed sales.

Most common MOT failures on a Hyundai Kona

  1. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.6% of tests
  2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.4% of tests
  3. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 1.9% of tests
  4. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.5% of tests
  5. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.1% of tests
  6. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.5% of tests
  7. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.3% of tests
  8. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 0.3% of tests
  9. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 0.2% of tests
  10. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 0.2% of tests

From 26,077 DVSA-tracked Hyundai Kona tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 6.58% of these flagged Hyundai Kona defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Hyundai Kona

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Hyundai Kona before it actually fails on it.

  1. A seat belt or flexible stalk damaged, 0.2% of tests (1.48x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. A seat belt webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened, 0.5% of tests (1.43x the national rate for this advisory)
  3. A tyre seriously damaged, 19% of tests (1.23x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 24.7% of tests, also fails
  5. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 9.3% of tests
  6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 8.5% of tests, also fails
  7. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 1.3% of tests, also fails
  8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1% of tests
  9. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.8% of tests
  10. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 0.7% of tests

From 26,077 DVSA-tracked Hyundai Kona tests, 2024.

Hyundai Kona pass rate by model year

From its 2017 to its 2022 model year, the Hyundai Kona's first-time pass rate has risen 6 points, from 89.7% to 95.7%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Hyundai Kona year:

Hyundai Kona by fuel type

The Hyundai Kona's two most-tested fuel types split by 1.4 points: petrol passes first time 90.3% of the time (14,733 tests) against 91.7% for electric (11,133 tests).

Other Hyundai models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Hyundai Kona MOT pass rate badge: 90.6%

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Hyundai Kona most common MOT failure: A tyre seriously damaged (2.6% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate