Used car guide

2007 Hyundai Matrix: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2007 Hyundai Matrixs, from 497 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 497 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

497MOT tests in 2025
48%pass first time (all 2007 cars: 57%)
4,500typical miles a year
3.2×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2007 Hyundai Matrixs than on all cars registered in 2007.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints3.2× usual
    Hyundai Matrix
    23.5% All 2007 cars
    7.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.9%, against 3.2% of all 2007 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 pipes2× usual
    Hyundai Matrix
    21.9% All 2007 cars
    11.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 1.8% of all 2007 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-frame2.4× usual
    Hyundai Matrix
    18.1% All 2007 cars
    7.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.4%, against 0.4% of all 2007 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.

  • Ball joint2× usual
    Hyundai Matrix
    12.3% All 2007 cars
    6.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7%, against 3% of all 2007 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.

  • Airbag warning light5.5× usual
    Hyundai Matrix
    6% All 2007 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5%, against 1% of all 2007 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

Coil springs: 4.2% here, against 11.7% of all 2007 cars.

By area

The share of 2007 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    41% 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
    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
    38% 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
    24% 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?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2010146Suspension 45%
2009269Brakes 42%
2008372Suspension 44%
2006575Suspension 49%
2005472Suspension 51%
2004291Suspension 52%
2003129Suspension 52%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2007 Hyundai Matrixs registered in 2007. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score