Common problems
Hyundai Matrix suspension problems
How often MOT testers find suspension faults on the Hyundai Matrix at each age, against all cars of the same age, and which items come up most. From 13,930 DVSA MOT tests taken 2022 to 2025.
MOT data updated
At 17 years, the most tested age
What stands out
- At 17 years, 16.0 of every 100 MOTs of the Hyundai Matrix found a suspension fail (n=2,779), against 17.2 for all cars of that age (n=4,040,458).
- It is above the all-car rate at 3 of the 7 ages with at least 1,000 tests.
- The gap is widest at 14 years: 13.7 per 100 MOTs against 16.0 for all cars.
- The suspension fail item recorded most often at 17 years: suspension ball joint worn, on 4.5 per 100 MOTs.
- The most common suspension advisory or minor defect: sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened, on 8.5 per 100 MOTs.
Suspension fails by age
Solid line: this model. Dashed line: all cars at the same age.
| Age | Tests (n) | Fails | All cars | Advisories | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 years | 1,079 | 13.7 | 16.0 | 21.7 | 30.4 |
| 15 years | 1,851 | 16.3 | 16.7 | 26.4 | 32.3 |
| 16 years | 2,441 | 15.7 | 17.1 | 26.8 | 33.7 |
| 17 years | 2,779 | 16.0 | 17.2 | 28.9 | 34.7 |
| 18 years | 2,567 | 17.4 | 17.2 | 33.0 | 35.3 |
| 19 years | 1,986 | 18.5 | 16.9 | 33.3 | 35.4 |
| 20 years | 1,227 | 17.9 | 16.5 | 37.7 | 35.2 |
Suspension fail items at 17 years
| Item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars | Typical repair (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension ball joint worn | 4.5 | 2.4 | £75 to £237 per side (rough guide) |
| Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened | 4.1 | 0.3 | |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | 1.6 | 1.9 |
Suspension advisories and minor defects at 17 years
Advisories and minor defects are recorded, but the car still passes. Across all cars, a part with an advisory or minor defect failed at the next MOT 5.5 times in 100 (n=88,666,940 pairs of consecutive MOTs), against 0.3 times in 100 when the same part had none (n=12,936,860,350).
| Item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars | If it needs replacing (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened | 8.5 | 5.3 | |
| Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil | 5.4 | 4.1 | £122 to £484 per axle (pair) (rough guide) |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 4.4 | 8.7 | £92 to £237 per arm (rough guide) |
| Suspension arm ball joint: ball joint has slight play | 3.3 | 2.5 | £75 to £237 per side (rough guide) |
| Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened | 2.7 | 2.7 | £92 to £237 per arm (rough guide) |
| Anti-roll bar pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 2.2 | 0.9 | £92 to £237 per arm (rough guide) |
Repair estimates are a guide for an independent garage: labour at the national median local garage rate (median £78 an hour from 65 garages, ONS price quotes) times estimated labour hours, plus a parts band. Labour hours and most parts bands are estimates, not quotes, and prices vary by model, engine and region. A warning light fault shows the cost of the diagnosis only.
What to check on a viewing
On the Hyundai Matrix, the suspension items testers fail most are suspension ball joint worn; sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened; component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength.
- Listen for knocks or clonks over speed bumps and rough roads on the test drive.
- Push down hard on each corner: the car should settle at once rather than keep bouncing.
- Look behind the wheels for broken or heavily rusted coil springs and split rubber bushes.
- Check that the car sits level and that no tyre is worn on one edge only.
Ask for the car's MOT history: a suspension advisory that repeats from year to year has not been fixed. GOV.UK MOT history.
Questions
What are the common suspension problems on the Hyundai Matrix?
At 17 years (2,779 MOTs), the suspension fail items testers record most often are suspension ball joint worn (4.5 per 100 MOTs), sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened (4.1 per 100 MOTs), component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (1.6 per 100 MOTs). The most common suspension advisories or minor defects are sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened (8.5) and shock absorbers: has light misting of oil (5.4).
Does the Hyundai Matrix have more suspension problems than other cars?
At 17 years it has 16.0 suspension fails per 100 MOTs against 17.2 for all cars of the same age (1.2 fewer). It is above the all-car rate at 3 of the 7 ages with enough tests.
What does a suspension repair cost on the Hyundai Matrix?
For suspension ball joint worn, an independent garage estimate is £75 to £237 per side (rough guide). This is a guide built from the national median garage labour rate and estimated labour hours, not a quote.
More on the Hyundai Matrix
Suspension problems on other Hyundai models
The all cars figures cover all class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans) tested at the same age.
Looking at a Hyundai Matrix?
These figures describe the model, not the car in front of you. Found one you might buy? See what the VetTheCar Buying Report covers, or use the tools that work without a registration.
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Repair estimates: ONS consumer price quotes for local garage labour (09/2025 to 08/2026), the MOT inspection manual for defect wording, and estimated labour hours and parts bands. Not affiliated with or endorsed by ONS.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources