Hyundai Sonata
From 966 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame and spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired. The top issue, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, caused 49 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 49 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 38 |
| 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 | 37 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 35 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 33 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 32 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 30 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 29 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 26 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 25 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 41.9% of failures are serious: 30.8% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 11.1% 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 £89.
Hyundai Sonata on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 90 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 90. At this rate, roughly 7.3 years until none remain. Now at 8.4% of its peak (7,687 in 2001 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 354 | 291 | +0 | -22 | -22 |
| 2025 Q2 | 382 | 285 | +0 | -14 | -14 |
| 2025 Q1 | 391 | 290 | +0 | -29 | -29 |
| 2024 Q4 | 419 | 291 | +0 | -25 | -25 |
| 2024 Q3 | 427 | 308 | +0 | -39 | -39 |
| 2024 Q2 | 458 | 316 | +0 | -18 | -18 |
| 2024 Q1 | 480 | 312 | +0 | -27 | -27 |
| 2023 Q4 | 512 | 307 | +0 | -21 | -21 |
2 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonata Cdx Auto | Petrol | 128 | 71% |
| Sonata Crtd Auto | Diesel | 53 | 29% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 69.6% | a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources, stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2006 | 66.9% | 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, a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources |
| 2005 | 64.7% | stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a tyre seriously damaged |
Typical mileage
Half of all Sonatas tested had between 59,143 and 121,580 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 89,780 median miles, the Sonata 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 Sonata MOT pass rate?
The Hyundai Sonata has a 65.9% MOT pass rate based on 966 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Hyundai Sonata?
The most common MOT failure on the Hyundai Sonata is wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, which caused 49 failures. Other common issues include parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement.
How many Hyundai Sonatas are on UK roads?
There are 354 Hyundai Sonatas currently licensed on UK roads, with 291 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Hyundai Sonata at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Hyundai Sonata is 89,780 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 59,143 and 121,580 miles.
Buying a used Sonata?
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.
With a 65.9% pass rate and an average repair bill of £89 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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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.