The picture
Kona: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 22,055 MOT tests, the Kona returns 89.7% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a defective wiper blade. Wipers that don't clear the screen and tyre tread under the limit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 29,781, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
Wiper blade defective
495 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
- 02
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
412 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 03
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
387 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 04
A tyre seriously damaged
325 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 05
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
245 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
- 06
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
234 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
- 07
A tyre cords visible or damaged
159 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 08
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
48 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 09
Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
47 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 10
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution.
45 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£100–£185
If every one of this Kona's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades
Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Owner reports · Honest John
What owners actually report.
Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.
What's good
The Kona offers the choice between two turbocharged, small-displacement petrol engines. A 1.0-litre T-GDI with a 6-speed manual transmission and 120PS as standard and a high-power 1.6-litre T-GDI with 177PS with and Hyundai’s self-developed 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and four-wheel drive.
Where it falls short
For the first time in a Hyundai, the Kona's new head-up display projects relevant driving information directly into the driver’s line of sight. An optional eight-inch infotainment system integrates all navigation, media and connectivity features, supporting both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system comes with a seven-year free subscription to LIVE Services, offering updated information in real time: weather, traffic, speed cameras and online searches for points of interest.
Buying or keeping a Kona?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Kona and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.