Used car guide

2004 Hyundai Getz: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 Hyundai Getzs, from 2,076 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,076MOT tests in 2025

50%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)

3,400typical miles a year

3.3×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

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

Drive shaft (CV) joints3.3× usual

Hyundai Getz
22.4% All 2004 cars
6.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 10.5%, against 2.9% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.
Sub-frame2.3× usual

Hyundai Getz
14.1% All 2004 cars
6.2%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, 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.
Exhaust system1.8× usual

Hyundai Getz
17.4% All 2004 cars
9.7%

Failed outright at MOT: 5.2%, against 2.5% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.
Number plates1.9× usual

Hyundai Getz
12.1% All 2004 cars
6.5%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.6% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.
Link ball joint covers2.7× usual

Hyundai Getz
7.5% All 2004 cars
2.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 1.5% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Coil springs: 3.6% here, against 10.9% of all 2004 cars. Suspension arm bushes and joints: 3.5% here, against 9.5% of all 2004 cars.

By area

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

Suspension

46% 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

43% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

38% 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.
Tyres

37% 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.
Driveshafts and joints

23% of testsRough price £60–£350

At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.
Exhaust and emissions

21% 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.

Looking at a Hyundai Getz?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2008	3,507	Suspension 46%
2007	3,877	Suspension 45%
2006	3,132	Suspension 47%
2005	2,506	Suspension 48%
2003	1,041	Brakes 47%

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