Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, 3 to 15 years old

Hyundai models ranked by MOT fails

Q: Which Hyundai models have the fewest MOT fails?

150,694 MOT tests at 3 to 8 years put the Hyundai Ioniq first: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.85). Next is the Hyundai i40: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.96).

Q: Which Hyundai models fail their MOT most often?

115,464 MOT tests at 3 to 14 years put the Hyundai ix20 last of the 13 in this list: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.20).

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 3,224,340 MOT tests · Updated 7 Oct 2026

Hyundai Ioniq has the fewest MOT fails among Hyundai models: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.85) (150,694 MOT tests) ^[1].

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13 models and generations ranked, 0 with at least 20% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (95% interval, at 3 or more ages), from 3,224,340 MOT tests ^[1]
Hyundai i40 is next: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.96) (85,171 MOT tests)
Hyundai ix20 is last of the 13: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.20) (115,464 MOT tests)

Which year and engine a car has, and how it was kept, decide where one car sits in these ranges. Check the reg first.

Fail rates are for the model across its MOT tests, never a forecast for one car.

No model in this list clears the award rule (at least 20% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage, with the 95% interval, at 3 or more ages).

This is DVSA MOT data, not road tests, owner surveys or breakdown records, and nobody paid to be included. Each model is compared with all cars tested at the same age, in the same mileage band and in its own mix of test years, so a low-mileage model does not look better for its low mileage. "Most reliable" in our titles is measured as MOT failure rate at the same age and mileage, not breakdowns.

Hyundai models: the ranking

Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, from 13 models and generations with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each of 3 or more ages between 3 to 15 years (pooled). The range under each rank is where the model could sit once sampling error is allowed for. Each adjusted rate reads against its own all-car rate, because models are tested at different ages.

Top 13 of 13. Adjusted rate = the model's rate at typical mileage for its own ages, against all cars at those ages; raw = its own ages and mileage.
#95% range	Model	Against cars the same age and mileage	Adjusted rateits own ages, typical mileage	Rawits own ages and mileage	MOT tests	Next step
1certain	Hyundai Ioniqfamily hatchback	close to averageratio 0.85 (0.84–0.86)	12.0%all cars: 14.1%	13.4%	150,694at 3 to 8 years	Hyundai Ioniq MOT fail rate · Hyundai Ioniq common problems
2certain	Hyundai i40executive car	close to averageratio 0.96 (0.95–0.97)	24.8%all cars: 25.7%	27.4%	85,171at 4 to 13 years	Hyundai i40 MOT fail rate · Hyundai i40 common problems
33–5	Hyundai Tucson (first used from 2015)family SUV	close to averageratio 0.99 (0.99–1.00)	15.8%all cars: 15.9%	16.1%	518,286at 3 to 10 years	Hyundai Tucson MOT fail rate · Hyundai Tucson common problems
43–5	Hyundai Konasmall SUV	about averageratio 1.01 (1.00–1.02)	12.8%all cars: 12.7%	12.5%	149,634at 3 to 7 years	Hyundai Kona MOT fail rate · Hyundai Kona common problems
53–6	Hyundai Tucson (first used before 2015)family SUV	about averageratio 1.01 (0.98–1.04)	41.8%all cars: 41.3%	43.1%	5,788at 13 to 15 years	–
65–7	Hyundai Santa Felarge SUV	close to averageratio 1.05 (1.04–1.06)	28.7%all cars: 27.3%	30.5%	117,038at 3 to 15 years	Hyundai Santa Fe MOT fail rate · Hyundai Santa Fe common problems
76–7	Hyundai ix35family SUV	close to averageratio 1.05 (1.04–1.06)	31.9%all cars: 30.4%	33.5%	207,979at 7 to 15 years	Hyundai ix35 MOT fail rate · Hyundai ix35 common problems
8certain	Hyundai i20supermini	close to averageratio 1.07 (1.06–1.07)	28.1%all cars: 26.3%	26.4%	500,710at 3 to 15 years	Hyundai i20 MOT fail rate · Hyundai i20 common problems
99–11	Hyundai i10city car	close to averageratio 1.14 (1.14–1.15)	30.2%all cars: 26.4%	25.9%	949,114at 3 to 15 years	Hyundai i10 MOT fail rate · Hyundai i10 common problems
109–12	Hyundai Coupesports car	close to averageratio 1.15 (1.12–1.18)	47.6%all cars: 41.4%	46.9%	7,936at 13 to 15 years	Hyundai Coupe MOT fail rate · Hyundai Coupe common problems
119–13	Hyundai Velostersports car	close to averageratio 1.18 (1.15–1.21)	38.9%all cars: 33.1%	37.5%	9,747at 9 to 13 years	Hyundai Veloster common problems
1210–12	Hyundai i30family hatchback	close to averageratio 1.18 (1.17–1.18)	33.3%all cars: 28.3%	33.8%	406,779at 3 to 15 years	Hyundai i30 MOT fail rate · Hyundai i30 common problems
1312–13	Hyundai ix20MPV	close to averageratio 1.20 (1.19–1.21)	31.2%all cars: 26.0%	27.8%	115,464at 3 to 14 years	Hyundai ix20 MOT fail rate · Hyundai ix20 common problems

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The top 10 in this list, model by model

1 · About average

Hyundai Ioniq

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.85, 95% CI 0.84–0.86), from 150,694 MOT tests at 3 to 8 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 12.0% (11.8%–12.2%), against 14.1% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 13.4%. Rank range 1–1.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were mostly hybrid.

2 · About average

Hyundai i40

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.96, 95% CI 0.95–0.97), from 85,171 MOT tests at 4 to 13 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 24.8% (24.5%–25.0%), against 25.7% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 27.4%. Rank range 2–2.

Check before you buy: fails on steering 3.4–3.6× as often as cars the same age (4,378 fails in 85,833 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on brakes 1.6–1.7× as often as cars the same age (7,344 fails in 85,833 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

3 · About average

Hyundai Tucson (first used from 2015)

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.99, 95% CI 0.99–1.00), from 518,286 MOT tests at 3 to 10 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 15.8% (15.7%–15.9%), against 15.9% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 16.1%. Rank range 3–5.

Check before you buy: fails on brakes 1.8–1.9× as often as cars the same age (28,077 fails in 520,466 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on visibility 1.38–1.41× as often as cars the same age (22,732 fails in 520,466 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family SUV; the ones tested were 53% petrol, 36% diesel; this row covers cars first used from 2015.

4 · About average

Hyundai Kona

Why it ranks here: About as many MOT fails as cars the same age and mileage (ratio 1.01, 95% CI 1.00–1.02), from 149,634 MOT tests at 3 to 7 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 12.8% (12.7%–13.0%), against 12.7% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 12.5%. Rank range 3–5.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a small SUV; the ones tested were 45% petrol, 29% hybrid.

5 · About average

Hyundai Tucson (first used before 2015)

Why it ranks here: About as many MOT fails as cars the same age and mileage (ratio 1.01, 95% CI 0.98–1.04), from 5,788 MOT tests at 13 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 41.8% (40.5%–43.0%), against 41.3% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 43.1%. Rank range 3–6.

Check before you buy: fails on brakes 1.4–1.6× as often as cars the same age (906 fails in 6,038 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family SUV; the ones tested were 73% diesel, 27% petrol; this row covers cars first used before 2015.

6 · About average

Hyundai Santa Fe

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.05, 95% CI 1.04–1.06), from 117,038 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 28.7% (28.4%–28.9%), against 27.3% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 30.5%. Rank range 5–7.

Check before you buy: fails on steering 2.0–2.1× as often as cars the same age (4,034 fails in 118,139 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on body and structure 1.6–1.7× as often as cars the same age (5,016 fails in 118,139 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on brakes 1.4–1.5× as often as cars the same age (9,907 fails in 118,139 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a large SUV; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

7 · About average

Hyundai ix35

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.05, 95% CI 1.04–1.06), from 207,979 MOT tests at 7 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 31.9% (31.7%–32.1%), against 30.4% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 33.5%. Rank range 6–7.

Check before you buy: fails on brakes 2.0–2.1× as often as cars the same age (27,775 fails in 209,126 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on steering 1.9–2.0× as often as cars the same age (8,226 fails in 209,126 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family SUV; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

8 · About average

Hyundai i20

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.07, 95% CI 1.06–1.07), from 500,710 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 28.1% (28.0%–28.3%), against 26.3% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 26.4%. Rank range 8–8.

Check before you buy: fails on seat belts and airbags 1.9–2.0× as often as cars the same age (6,453 fails in 503,084 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on visibility 1.56–1.60× as often as cars the same age (32,342 fails in 503,084 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on brakes 1.30–1.33× as often as cars the same age (36,472 fails in 503,084 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a supermini; the ones tested were mostly petrol.

9 · About average

Hyundai i10

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.14, 95% CI 1.14–1.15), from 949,114 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 30.2% (30.1%–30.3%), against 26.4% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 25.9%. Rank range 9–11.

Check before you buy: fails on visibility 1.50–1.52× as often as cars the same age (59,029 fails in 952,926 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on brakes 1.36–1.38× as often as cars the same age (72,455 fails in 952,926 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a city car; the ones tested were mostly petrol.

10 · About average

Hyundai Coupe

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.15, 95% CI 1.12–1.18), from 7,936 MOT tests at 13 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 47.6% (46.5%–48.7%), against 41.4% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 46.9%. Rank range 9–12.

Check before you buy: fails on steering 2.9–3.3× as often as cars the same age (767 fails in 8,220 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on brakes 2.4–2.6× as often as cars the same age (2,012 fails in 8,220 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on emissions and leaks 1.5–1.8× as often as cars the same age (705 fails in 8,220 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a sports car; the ones tested were mostly petrol.

How to choose Hyundai models with this list

Compare like with like: against cars the same age and mileage, this list runs from about average (Hyundai Ioniq) to about average (Hyundai ix20).
0 of the 13 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 0 at least 20% more often; the other 13 are within that band, or too uncertain to say.
Look at what a model fails on: 8 of the 10 models above have a part that fails more often than on cars the same age.
Then check the one car: its own MOT history and advisories say more about it than its model's average.

Found one on the list? Check that car

A ranking compares models at the same age and mileage; it cannot say how one car was kept. A registration shows that car's own DVSA record: its MOT tests, the mileage at each test and the recall flag.

Free car check by registration The MOT record, the mileage readings and the recall flag in one overview, with how the model does at its MOT.
Check any car's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
Mileage check by registration The odometer reading from each MOT, with drops, jumps and long gaps flagged.

How we rank

3,224,340 MOT tests from 2022–2025 of cars 3 to 15 years old. For each model and age, the tests are split into 6 mileage bands (<30k, 30-60k, 60-90k, 90-120k, 120-150k, 150k+); the expected fails are what all cars of that age would fail in the same bands, corrected to the model's own mix of test years. The ratio of the model's fails to the expected fails sets its place. The adjusted rate is that ratio times the all-car rate at the model's own ages, so it reads against that rate: a model tested only at 3 to 5 years is compared with young cars, not with this list's average.

The 95% intervals cover sampling error only (Wilson intervals). A model is called fewer or more only when its interval is at least 20% from the all-car rate, overall and at 3 or more ages ("close to average" when the interval excludes the all-car rate by less); awards use the same rule. Test years: Each model's expected fails therefore use its own mix of test years 2022–2025, age by age; the mileage bands themselves pool the four years, which can leave a small bias in favour of models first sold late in the window. Generations of a model are pooled unless the data splits them; each row says which years it covers. How we compare

Limitation: MOT tests record roadworthiness defects on the test day. They do not record breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs, and they cannot separate design from upkeep: a model whose owners service it before every MOT looks better here. Only cars still on the road are tested.

More lists

Questions people ask

Which Hyundai models have the fewest MOT fails?

150,694 MOT tests at 3 to 8 years put the Hyundai Ioniq first: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.85). Next is the Hyundai i40: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.96).

Which Hyundai models fail their MOT most often?

115,464 MOT tests at 3 to 14 years put the Hyundai ix20 last of the 13 in this list: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.20).

How many Hyundai models are compared?

13 models and generations with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each age counted, 3,224,340 MOT tests in all; 0 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 0 at least 20% more often.

Sources

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 3,224,340 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.