Used car guide

2021 Hyundai Kona: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Hyundai Konas, from 14,254 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

14,254MOT tests in 2025
86%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
7,900typical miles a year
3.1×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Hyundai Konas than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints3.1× usual
    Hyundai Kona
    3.4% All 2021 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.2% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Headlight aim1.7× usual
    Hyundai Kona
    2.4% All 2021 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 1.4% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

Better than most

Brake pads: 1.7% here, against 6.8% of all 2021 cars.

By area

The share of 2021 Hyundai Kona MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    28% 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.

  • Brakes
    8% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Lights and electrics
    5% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    4% 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.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a Hyundai Kona?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023846Tyres 23%
202213,845Tyres 24%
202011,903Tyres 31%
20198,872Tyres 32%
20186,705Tyres 29%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2021 Hyundai Konas registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score