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Hyundai Sonata MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Hyundai Sonata. Check any Sonata by registration number below.

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81.1%

Avg Pass Rate

-6.6%

vs Hyundai Avg

20

Year Ranges

Good

Reliability

Hyundai Sonata — MOT Reliability Overview

The Hyundai Sonata has an average MOT pass rate of 81.1%, which is 6.6 percentage points below the Hyundai brand average of 87.7%. This is a strong result, indicating that the Sonata is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.

The most common reasons a Hyundai Sonata fails its MOT are excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 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, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen. If you are preparing your Sonata for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used Hyundai Sonata, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Hyundai Sonata performs at MOT across different model years.

2010

Based on 68 vehicles

82.4%Good
Hyundai average: 87.7%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

4.8%

2009

Based on 136 vehicles

66.2%Average
Hyundai average: 87.7%
Dangerous Defects

12.5%

Retest Rate

22.5%

2008

Based on 623 vehicles

93.3%Excellent
Hyundai average: 87.7%
Dangerous Defects

9.0%

Retest Rate

29.5%

Mileage at 5yr

120k mi

Mileage at 10yr

171k mi

2007

Based on 251 vehicles

71.7%Average
Hyundai average: 87.7%
Dangerous Defects

7.2%

Retest Rate

25.2%

2006

Based on 276 vehicles

67.8%Average
Hyundai average: 87.7%
Dangerous Defects

7.0%

Retest Rate

24.2%

2005

Based on 256 vehicles

63.3%Below Average
Hyundai average: 87.7%
Dangerous Defects

9.7%

Retest Rate

30.6%

2004

Based on 94 vehicles

71.3%Average
Hyundai average: 87.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.9%

Retest Rate

13.7%

2003

Based on 788 vehicles

88.3%Excellent
Hyundai average: 87.7%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

22.6%

Mileage at 10yr

162k mi

2002

Based on 610 vehicles

87.4%Excellent
Hyundai average: 87.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.3%

Retest Rate

4.3%

Mileage at 10yr

168k mi

2001

Based on 622 vehicles

86.8%Excellent
Hyundai average: 87.7%
Mileage at 10yr

167k mi

2000

Based on 377 vehicles

85.1%Excellent
Hyundai average: 87.7%
Mileage at 10yr

178k mi

1999

Based on 471 vehicles

85.6%Excellent
Hyundai average: 87.7%
Mileage at 10yr

174k mi

1998

Based on 464 vehicles

88.8%Excellent
Hyundai average: 87.7%
Mileage at 10yr

175k mi

1997

Based on 581 vehicles

87.1%Excellent
Hyundai average: 87.7%

1996

Based on 658 vehicles

88.0%Excellent
Hyundai average: 87.7%

1995

Based on 372 vehicles

86.6%Excellent
Hyundai average: 87.7%

1994

Based on 177 vehicles

85.3%Excellent
Hyundai average: 87.7%

1993

Based on 167 vehicles

83.8%Good
Hyundai average: 87.7%

1992

Based on 88 vehicles

80.7%Good
Hyundai average: 87.7%

0

Based on 804 vehicles

73.0%Average
Hyundai average: 87.7%
Mileage at 5yr

88k mi

Top MOT Failures — Hyundai Sonata

The most common reasons a Hyundai Sonata fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

1

Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution.

7.4%
2

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

4.3%
3

Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen

4.0%
4

Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

3.9%

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Rear Nearside

5.9%

Rear Offside

4.4%

Nearside

2.9%

Hyundai Sonata — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Hyundai Sonata MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Hyundai Sonata?
The average MOT pass rate for the Hyundai Sonata is 81.1% compared to the Hyundai average of 87.7%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.
What are the most common MOT failures on a Hyundai Sonata?
The most common MOT failures on the Hyundai Sonata are: Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution. (7.4%), 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 (4.3%), Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen (4.0%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.
Is the Hyundai Sonata reliable?
With an average MOT pass rate of 81.1%, the Hyundai Sonata is rated as "Good" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.
How do I check the MOT history of a Hyundai Sonata?
Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.
What mileage should I expect on a Hyundai Sonata?
Typical mileage for the Hyundai Sonata: 120,096 miles at 5 years, 170,765 miles at 10 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used Sonata to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Hyundai Sonata's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.

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