Used car guide

2006 Hyundai Matrix: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 Hyundai Matrixs, from 575 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

575MOT tests in 2025
52%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)
4,100typical miles a year
3.3×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2006 Hyundai Matrixs than on all cars registered in 2006.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints3.3× usual
    Hyundai Matrix
    25.2% All 2006 cars
    7.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.8%, against 3.4% of all 2006 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.

  • Rigid brake pipes1.7× usual
    Hyundai Matrix
    24.5% All 2006 cars
    14.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 2.3% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Sub-frame2.3× usual
    Hyundai Matrix
    16.5% All 2006 cars
    7.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.9%, against 0.3% of all 2006 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.

  • Power steering pipes and hoses8.4× usual
    Hyundai Matrix
    5.9% All 2006 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.1% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Airbag warning light4× usual
    Hyundai Matrix
    5.2% All 2006 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 1.2% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 6.8% here, against 13.7% of all 2006 cars.

By area

The share of 2006 Hyundai Matrix MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    49% 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.

  • Brakes
    41% 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
    39% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    37% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Driveshafts and joints
    25% of testsRough price £60–£350

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    14% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Looking at a Hyundai Matrix?

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

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2006 Hyundai Matrixs registered in 2006. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score