Hyundai Kona
From 41,795 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Konas fare better: 2022 models pass at 94.7% vs 88.7% for 2017.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements and wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 736 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a tyre seriously damaged | 736 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 646 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 529 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 406 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 300 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 161 |
| wiper blade defective | 112 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 85 |
| excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution. | 71 |
| brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn | 71 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 50.8% of failures are serious: 50.8% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 0% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £76.
Hyundai Kona on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 11,867 newly registered in the past year with 828 leaving, a net gain of 11,039. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 97,571 | 421 | +3,692 | -135 | +3,557 |
| 2025 Q2 | 94,006 | 429 | +2,607 | -340 | +2,267 |
| 2025 Q1 | 91,764 | 404 | +2,360 | -170 | +2,190 |
| 2024 Q4 | 89,591 | 387 | +3,208 | -183 | +3,025 |
| 2024 Q3 | 86,560 | 393 | +4,987 | -434 | +4,553 |
| 2024 Q2 | 81,976 | 424 | +6,184 | -214 | +5,970 |
| 2024 Q1 | 76,053 | 377 | +3,806 | -0 | +3,966 |
| 2023 Q4 | 72,100 | 364 | +2,764 | -192 | +2,572 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kona Premium Ev | Battery Electric | 14,261 | 16% |
| Kona Premium Gdi Hev S-A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 8,844 | 10% |
| Kona Ultimate Ev | Battery Electric | 8,773 | 10% |
| Kona Advance Ev | Battery Electric | 7,634 | 9% |
| Kona Premium | Petrol | 5,131 | 6% |
| Kona Ultimate Gdi Hev S-A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 3,813 | 4% |
| Kona Se | Petrol | 3,715 | 4% |
| Kona N Line Ev | Battery Electric | 3,651 | 4% |
| Kona Se Connect Gdi Hev S-A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 3,457 | 4% |
| Kona Premium Se Ev | Battery Electric | 3,291 | 4% |
| Kona Play T-Gdi | Petrol | 2,949 | 3% |
| Kona Premium T-Gdi Mhev | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 2,940 | 3% |
| Kona Premium Se | Petrol | 2,789 | 3% |
| Kona Se Connect T-Gdi Mhev | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 2,729 | 3% |
| Kona N Line Hev S-A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 2,679 | 3% |
| Kona Premium Se Gdi Hev S-A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 2,562 | 3% |
| Kona N Line S Hev S-A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 1,987 | 2% |
| Kona N Line S Ev | Battery Electric | 1,928 | 2% |
| Kona N Line T-Gdi | Petrol | 1,714 | 2% |
| Kona Ultimate Hev S-A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 1,708 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 94.7% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2021 | 88.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2020 | 89.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2019 | 88.5% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
2 earlier years
| 2018 | 89.3% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2017 | 88.7% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
Typical mileage
Half of all Konas tested had between 16,902 and 38,865 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 29,050 median miles, the Kona has 0.038 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Hyundai models
| Hyundai I10 | 77.5% |
| Hyundai I20 | 76.7% |
| Hyundai I30 | 72.6% |
| Hyundai Tucson | 84.5% |
| Hyundai Ix35 | 73.4% |
Common questions
What is the Hyundai Kona MOT pass rate?
The Hyundai Kona has a 88.9% MOT pass rate based on 41,795 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Hyundai Kona?
The most common MOT failure on the Hyundai Kona is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 736 failures. Other common issues include tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements.
How many Hyundai Konas are on UK roads?
There are 97,571 Hyundai Konas currently licensed on UK roads, with 421 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Hyundai Kona at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Hyundai Kona is 29,050 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 16,902 and 38,865 miles.
Buying a used Kona?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.