EV ZoneHyundai
Reliability
Are Hyundais reliable? Common problems, MOT data, and full history checks for used Hyundai vehicles.
73.9% MOT pass rate based on 851,000 tests.
Common faults and reliability ranked across 16 Hyundai models.
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Are Hyundai cars reliable?
Hyundai vs other premium brands
Hyundai vehicles pass their MOT at 73.9%, 1.5 points above the national average of 72.4%. Among the Asian and value peers here, Skoda (76.3%), Kia (75.2%), and Toyota (75.0%) sit slightly higher, while Volkswagen (72.9%) is a close match and Nissan (67.7%) trails behind.
The Hyundai range is anchored by the i10 city car, which alone accounts for 204,000 MOT tests. The i10 and i20 both pass around 71%. The Tucson SUV, Ioniq, and Kona are the range highlights, each passing at 80% or above.
Reliability data shows part of the picture. A vehicle history check reveals the rest, including outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, and mileage discrepancies.
What is the Hyundai MOT pass rate by age?
Pass rate at each vehicle age, from 3 to 20 years old. National average shown for comparison.
Hyundai pass rates sit just below the national average in the early years and pull ahead in the middle years. At age 3, Hyundais pass at 87.3% vs 88.5% nationally, essentially level. By age 6, Hyundais lead at 84.1% vs 83.5% nationally, and by age 10 the lead widens to 73.5% vs 71.9%.
From around age 12 onward, Hyundai pass rates begin to slip below the national average. By age 20 the gap is 52.8% vs 57.6%. The reversal reflects that the surviving older Hyundais on UK roads are mostly the earliest models built before the brand's quality push.
What are the most common Hyundai faults?
Top 10 MOT failure categories for Hyundai, ranked by frequency. National percentage shown alongside.
Top 5 specific Hyundai failure reasons
These are the specific MOT examiner findings most frequently recorded on Hyundai vehicles, along with what they mean.
- Not working (8.31% of Hyundai failures)
A lamp, indicator, or electrical component that has completely stopped functioning. Usually a blown bulb or faulty sensor.
- Inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.69% of Hyundai failures)
More than one bulb or LED in a lamp cluster has failed, so the unit no longer meets minimum brightness. Often a headlight or brake light LED strip.
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.28% of Hyundai failures)
One or more tyres worn below the legal minimum tread depth. The legal limit is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre.
- Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (3.70% of Hyundai failures)
The rubber boot protecting a suspension ball joint has cracked or split, letting dirt into the joint. Common on older cars.
- Less than 1.5 mm thick (3.65% of Hyundai failures)
A brake pad measured below the minimum safe thickness of 1.5mm. Immediate replacement required to maintain braking performance.
Hyundai's failure profile has one clear tilt. Brakes account for 20.9% of failures vs 13.0% nationally, one of the highest brake failure shares of any mainstream brand. Suspension failures at 16.5% sit below the national 20.7%, and lamps and electrical failures at 23.6% are marginally below the national 24.6%.
Which Hyundai models are most reliable?
Top 15 Hyundai models ranked by MOT test volume. Pass rate shown for each. Green bars beat the national average of 72.4%. Red bars sit below it.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai I10 | 203,632 | 71.3% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Hyundai I20 | 105,863 | 71.0% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Hyundai Tucson | 100,044 | 80.1% | Brakes |
| Hyundai I30 | 88,314 | 63.8% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Hyundai Ix35 | 44,370 | 63.6% | Brakes |
| Hyundai Ioniq | 41,529 | 86.2% | Tyres |
| Hyundai Kona | 27,241 | 86.3% | Tyres |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | 27,056 | 66.4% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Hyundai Ix20 | 25,576 | 69.1% | Brakes |
| Hyundai I40 | 17,815 | 71.1% | Brakes |
| Hyundai Getz | 14,700 | 53.4% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Hyundai Tucson Ultimate T-Gdi Hev Auto | 7,993 | 91.9% | Visibility |
| Hyundai Kona Premium Gdi Hev S-A | 7,563 | 85.2% | Tyres |
| Hyundai I800 | 7,068 | 63.0% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Hyundai I10 SE CONNECT MPI | 6,876 | 85.7% | Visibility |
The Kona (86.4%) and Ioniq (86.2%) lead the popular Hyundai range, both electric or hybrid models. The Tucson SUV sits at 80.1%. The volume i10 (71.3%) and i20 (71.0%) pass just below national. The older i30 (63.8%), ix35 (63.6%), and Santa Fe (66.4%) sit lower, and the Getz at 53.4% is the weakest performer in the range.
How many miles do Hyundai vehicles typically cover?
Average recorded mileage at each MOT test, by vehicle age. National average shown for comparison.
Hyundai vehicles cover less mileage than the national average at every age. At age 3, Hyundais average 26,000 miles vs 28,000 nationally. By age 10 the gap widens to 69,000 vs 80,000, and by age 20 it is 90,000 vs 111,000. Hyundai ownership skews toward lower-mileage private drivers rather than fleet or commercial use.
Our Premium Vehicle Reports compare the recorded mileage at every MOT test to flag discrepancies. A drop in recorded mileage between two tests is a strong signal that the odometer may have been tampered with.
Are there any Hyundai safety recalls?
Safety recalls are issued by Hyundai when a manufacturing defect could affect the safety of the vehicle. The DVSA records every UK recall and links it to affected vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Recalls are free for the owner to have fixed at a franchised dealer.
Recall lists change over time as new issues are identified and old ones are resolved. For that reason we do not maintain a static list here. When you check a Hyundai via Brumble, the report shows any outstanding manufacturer safety recalls that still need action on that specific vehicle.
How do you check a Hyundai's full history?
Before you buy any used Hyundai, a full history check protects you from problems that a physical inspection would miss. Here is what a Premium Vehicle Report from Brumble covers.
Has this Hyundai been written off?
An insurance write-off means the car has been declared uneconomical to repair after an accident, fire, or flood. The report shows the category (Cat A, B, N, or S), the date, and the cause. Cat A and B are permanently unroadworthy. Cat N and S can legally return to the road but often carry hidden damage and are worth significantly less.
Is there outstanding finance on this Hyundai?
If the previous owner has an active HP, PCP, or loan agreement secured against the car, the finance company legally owns it until the balance is paid off. Buying a car with outstanding finance means the finance company can repossess it, even after you have paid the seller in full. The report checks with Experian for any active finance agreements.
Has this Hyundai been reported stolen?
The Police National Computer records stolen vehicles. The report checks the PNC for any active stolen marker. Buying a stolen vehicle means the police can seize it and return it to the rightful owner, with no compensation.
Has the mileage been tampered with?
Every MOT test records the current mileage. The report shows the full mileage history from every recorded test and flags any drops or unusually flat periods. A drop between tests is a strong signal the odometer has been clocked. A car worth £15,000 with 60,000 miles on the clock might be worth £10,000 if the true mileage is 120,000.
Has this Hyundai been used as a taxi or private hire vehicle?
Ex-taxis and private hire vehicles have typically covered high mileage under harder use than a private car of the same age. Insurers may view them as higher risk, and resale value is significantly lower. The report checks whether the vehicle has ever been registered as a taxi or private hire vehicle.
What is this Hyundai worth?
The report includes current trade, retail, and private-sale valuations based on the vehicle's make, model, trim, mileage, and condition. Use it to check whether the asking price is fair before you negotiate.
Check any Hyundai's full history for £9.99. No subscription.
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What should you check before buying a used Hyundai?
Four practical steps before you hand over any money.
- 1
Check the MOT history
Every UK vehicle has a free MOT test history showing every pass, fail, advisory, and recorded mileage. Use the Brumble MOT checker to see what previous inspections found.
- 2
Check the vehicle's full history
A Premium Vehicle Report covers outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, mileage discrepancies, safety recalls, and valuation. £9.99, no subscription.
- 3
Compare insurance before you commit
Hyundai insurance groups vary widely by model and trim. Get a car insurance quote before you buy to avoid nasty surprises after the sale.
- 4
Check the tax status
Confirm the car is currently taxed, or you may not be able to drive it away. The Brumble tax checker shows current tax status and when tax is next due.
Hyundai Reliability FAQs
Source: Brumble analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2025 test year (published June 2026). Class 3 and 4 vehicles with 5,000+ tests per model. Published under Open Government Licence v3.0.