Hyundai Kona Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Hyundai Kona car check
Is the Hyundai Kona reliable? We analysed 79,432 real MOT tests across 15,364 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Hyundai Kona? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Hyundai Kona is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Hyundai Kona.
Hyundai Kona Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Hyundai Kona. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Hyundai Kona MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Hyundai Kona to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Hyundai Kona Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Hyundai Kona models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Hyundai Kona Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Hyundai Kona owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Hyundai Kona MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Hyundai Kona year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 153 | 86.3% | 14,576 | 21,739 | 36,989 |
| 2021 | 532 | 89.8% | 15,187 | 23,702 | 35,171 |
| 2020 | 6,154 | 89.7% | 16,466 | 25,001 | 36,367 |
| 2019 | 30,025 | 89.4% | 18,872 | 28,320 | 40,228 |
| 2018 | 38,668 | 89.3% | 20,419 | 30,790 | 44,062 |
| 2017 | 2,846 | 90.5% | 20,813 | 32,458 | 46,306 |
How Long Does a Hyundai Kona Last?
Based on 15,364 Hyundai Kona vehicles on UK roads.
Hyundai Kona Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Hyundai Kona 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 Kona
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
90.5% MOT pass rate from 2,846 tests
86.3% MOT pass rate from 153 tests
The best year to buy a used Hyundai Kona is 2017, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.5% across 2,846 tests. The 2022 model year has the lowest pass rate at 86.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Hyundai Kona Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Kona THIS CAR | 89.4% | 79,432 | 29,490 mi | — 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 |
| Mazda Premacy | 70.5% | 131,632 | 73,101 mi | 27 yrs |
Compared to the Hyundai I10 (80.4% pass rate) and the Hyundai I20 (80.2% pass rate), the Hyundai Kona outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Hyundai Kona 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 KonaShould you buy a used Hyundai Kona?
The Hyundai Kona has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.4% across 79,432 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Hyundai Kona with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Hyundai Kona owner drives around 6,122 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.
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.