Used car guide

2004 Hyundai Coupe: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 Hyundai Coupes, from 275 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 275 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

275MOT tests in 2025
56%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
4,000typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 Hyundai Coupes than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Sub-frame2.2× usual
    Hyundai Coupe
    13.5% All 2004 cars
    6.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.3% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

By area

The share of 2004 Hyundai Coupe MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    53% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    47% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    40% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    34% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    20% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    16% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2009954Brakes 53%
2008891Suspension 50%
20071,136Brakes 50%
2006744Brakes 51%
2005426Suspension 44%
2003158Brakes 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2004 Hyundai Coupes registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score