Hyundai Sonata: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Hyundai Sonata fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 9.7 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 561 individual Hyundai Sonata tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 67% first-time pass rate means roughly 33 in every 100 Hyundai Sonatas presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Hyundai Sonata tested had covered 89,029 miles and was built around 2007.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Hyundai Sonata sits 9.7 points below the national average, ranked 1,830 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

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 Sonata 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 recorded closing bids for damaged Hyundai Sonatas at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Hyundai Sonata

1. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 4.8% of tests (5.1x the national rate for this defect)
2. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 5.5% of tests (4.24x the national rate for this defect)
3. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 4.1% of tests (3.95x the national rate for this defect)
4. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 5.3% of tests (3.93x the national rate for this defect)
5. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 6.4% of tests (3.37x the national rate for this defect)
6. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 5.7% of tests (2.43x the national rate for this defect)
7. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 4.6% of tests (2.08x the national rate for this defect)
8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 4.5% of tests (2.08x the national rate for this defect)
9. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.6% of tests (1.94x the national rate for this defect)
10. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.9% of tests (1.7x the national rate for this defect)

From 561 DVSA-tracked Hyundai Sonata tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.51% of these flagged Hyundai Sonata defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Hyundai Sonata

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 Sonata before it actually fails on it.

1. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 28.5% of tests (5.51x the national rate for this advisory)
2. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 24.4% of tests (5.17x the national rate for this advisory)
3. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 9.8% of tests (4.91x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 5.2% of tests (4.67x the national rate for this advisory)
5. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 6.4% of tests (4.23x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
6. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 4.5% of tests (3.58x the national rate for this advisory)
7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 8% of tests (3.02x the national rate for this advisory)
8. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 13.9% of tests (2.5x the national rate for this advisory)
9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 25.1% of tests (2.05x the national rate for this advisory)
10. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 10.9% of tests (1.76x the national rate for this advisory)

From 561 DVSA-tracked Hyundai Sonata tests, 2024.

Other Hyundai models

• Hyundai I10 - 78.3%
• Hyundai I20 - 78.3%
• Hyundai Tucson - 84%
• Hyundai I30 - 70.5%
• Hyundai Ix35 - 69.8%
• Hyundai Ioniq - 89.9%
• Hyundai Santa Fe - 71.3%
• Hyundai Ix20 - 76.5%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Peugeot 1007 - 67%
• MG 6 - 67%
• Volkswagen Camper - 67%
• Alfa Romeo Mito - 66.8%
• Daihatsu Sirion - 66.8%
• Ssangyong Rodius - 66.8%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate