2020 Hyundai Kona — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 19,455 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Hyundai Kona, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 92.0% was in line with the average for small SUVs of a similar age (92.3%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.9% | 960 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.0% | 582 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 525 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 218 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 77 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 33 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 568 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 487 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 365 |
| 4 | Washers | 120 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 103 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 98 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.2% | 4,323 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.1% | 1,572 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.3% | 1,031 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 572 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 289 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.0% | 191 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 9,228 | 5.7% |
| 30-60k | 7,862 | 10.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,702 | 10.5% |
| 90-120k | 426 | 8.7% |
| 120-150k | 156 | 9.6% |
| 150k+ | 81 | 6.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | 14,061 | 8.1% |
| Petrol | 5,251 | 7.8% |
| Hybrid | 138 | 10.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 219 | 3.6% |
| 2022 | 543 | 3.1% |
| 2023 | 6,072 | 6.3% |
| 2024 | 6,236 | 8.5% |
| 2025 | 6,385 | 9.8% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Kona
Before buying a 2020 Hyundai Kona, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.9% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (4.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (3.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (2.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2020 Hyundai Konas pass their MOT?
92.0% of the 19,455 2020 Hyundai Kona MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Hyundai Kona?
Tyres, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by visibility (3.0%).
Does the 2020 Kona get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.7% in the 0-30k band to 6.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,455 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.