Hyundai Elantra Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Hyundai Elantra car check
Is the Hyundai Elantra reliable? We analysed 73,040 real MOT tests across 6,045 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Hyundai Elantra? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Hyundai Elantra is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and parking brake recording little or no effort. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Hyundai Elantra.
Hyundai Elantra Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Hyundai Elantra. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Hyundai Elantra MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Hyundai Elantra to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Hyundai Elantra Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Hyundai Elantra fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Hyundai Elantra Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Hyundai Elantra owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Hyundai Elantra MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Hyundai Elantra year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 52 | 73.1% | 48,620 | 55,737 | 66,545 |
| 2014 | 50 | 80.0% | 63,398 | 89,738 | 105,047 |
| 2013 | 164 | 75.6% | 41,202 | 63,277 | 89,049 |
| 2012 | 97 | 70.1% | 57,983 | 73,798 | 100,605 |
| 2011 | 52 | 69.2% | 39,668 | 71,173 | 83,754 |
| 2010 | 61 | 75.4% | 27,200 | 45,679 | 90,213 |
| 2007 | 55 | 67.3% | 80,567 | 91,492 | 113,111 |
| 2006 | 2,862 | 71.3% | 46,312 | 69,622 | 98,196 |
| 2005 | 8,514 | 70.7% | 42,921 | 67,443 | 94,403 |
| 2004 | 8,679 | 69.4% | 44,785 | 68,078 | 95,180 |
| 2003 | 12,899 | 70.3% | 39,938 | 60,366 | 84,409 |
| 2002 | 18,603 | 69.2% | 43,122 | 61,658 | 84,328 |
| 2001 | 20,325 | 68.1% | 44,342 | 62,138 | 81,734 |
| 2000 | 212 | 64.2% | 50,550 | 74,702 | 100,936 |
How Long Does a Hyundai Elantra Last?
Based on 6,045 Hyundai Elantra vehicles on UK roads.
Hyundai Elantra Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Hyundai Elantra MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Hyundai Elantra
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
80.0% MOT pass rate from 50 tests
64.2% MOT pass rate from 212 tests
The best year to buy a used Hyundai Elantra is 2014, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 80.0% across 50 tests. The 2000 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Hyundai Elantra Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Elantra THIS CAR | 69.4% | 73,040 | 63,143 mi | 25 yrs |
| Hyundai I10 | 80.4% | 2,829,935 | 35,978 mi | 18 yrs |
| Hyundai I20 | 80.2% | 1,488,641 | 45,118 mi | 17 yrs |
| Hyundai I30 | 76.5% | 1,479,391 | 57,858 mi | 19 yrs |
| BMW 745 | 77.4% | 22,701 | 87,423 mi | 24 yrs |
Compared to the Hyundai I10 (80.4% pass rate) and the Hyundai I20 (80.2% pass rate), the Hyundai Elantra trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Hyundai Elantra you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Hyundai ElantraShould you buy a used Hyundai Elantra?
The Hyundai Elantra has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.4% across 73,040 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Hyundai Elantra are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (5,323 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (3,981), and parking brake recording little or no effort (3,198). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Hyundai Elantra owner drives around 6,247 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Hyundai Elantra models stay on UK roads for around 25 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.