Hyundai Kona Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Hyundai Kona fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 46,148 MOT tests across 7 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: electric | Fuel: Electric, Petrol
92%
Hyundai Kona pass rate
83%
Hyundai average
82%
All-model average
The Hyundai Kona has an average MOT pass rate of 92%, which is 9 points above the Hyundai average and 10 points above the average across all models in our data. The Hyundai Kona has maintained consistent MOT pass rates across model years, varying by only 1 percentage point.
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What the Hyundai Kona Fails Its MOT On
Of the 4,180 MOT tests on the Hyundai Kona that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Tyres
40%Cars and vans the same age: 35% · Typical repair £50-£300
Lights and electrics
25%Cars and vans the same age: 24% · Typical repair £15-£200
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
24%Cars and vans the same age: 20% · Typical repair £10-£350
Brakes
18%Cars and vans the same age: 17% · Typical repair £80-£450
Suspension
4%Cars and vans the same age: 12% (the Kona fails on this less often) · Typical repair £150-£600
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively (18% of failed tests, windscreen, wipers and mirrors)
- Tyre has a cut deep enough to reach the ply or cords (14% of failed tests, tyres)
- Tyre tread depth below the 1.6mm limit (13% of failed tests, tyres)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Hyundai Kona Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Kona year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points less often than other cars of the same age.
Passed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points more often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Hyundai Kona Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
Hyundai Kona Running Costs
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Hyundai Kona FAQ
What are the most common Hyundai Kona problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Hyundai Kona that failed at the first attempt most often failed on tyres (40% of the 4,180 failed tests), lights and electrics (25%) and windscreen, wipers and mirrors (24%). The single most common fault was "Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively" (18%). Across 46,148 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 92% ended in a pass.
Is the Hyundai Kona reliable?
The Hyundai Kona has an average MOT pass rate of 92%, from 46,148 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed within 1 point of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Hyundai Kona years should I avoid?
No Hyundai Kona year with 1,000+ tests passed 3 or more points less often than all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Hyundai Kona faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Hyundai Kona typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Hyundai Models
Common problems pages for other Hyundai models