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What to check: Hyundai Kona

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Ranked across all years of the Hyundai Kona, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Bushes and ball jointsDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 1.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 5.9%

Warning lights on ignitionTurn the ignition on without starting the engine and watch the dash. Every warning light should appear, then go out once it is running. Be more suspicious of a light that never comes on at all than of one that stays on; warning bulbs have been known to vanish before a sale.Recorded on 0.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.5%

A binding brakeAfter the test drive, hold the back of your hand near each wheel hub. One wheel running much hotter than the rest is a sticking caliper. A car that slows itself down when you lift off on a flat road is saying the same thing.Recorded on 0.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Lights and horn walkroundWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 0.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.8%

Rubber boots and gaitersOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 0.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.3%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 22.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 15.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 8.7%

Windscreen and wipersScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 1.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.7%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

On a diesel, brake gently and repeatedly from low speed on a cold start.Any judder through the pedal points to the early disc wear owners report.

Check the DPF warning light history and ask what the car is mostly used for.Mostly short trips plus an early or recurring DPF light means expensive regen or filter work is likely.

On a DCT automatic, pull away from a dead stop several times, including on an incline.Hesitation, a jerky first-gear bite or any stall warning points to the known low-speed clutch fault.

On a Kona Electric, check the recall status using the VIN on Hyundai's recall checker.An outstanding battery recall means a free fix is owed but also that the pack hasn't been inspected yet.

Ask an EV seller if the car has ever needed a jump start or a new 12V battery.Recurring 12V drain is a known nuisance fault, not a one-off.

Listen for creaks or knocks from the front end over speed bumps and on full steering lock.A clunk here is the suspension wear owners report; don't dismiss it as just road noise.

Read the full MOT history, not just the pass/fail line.Repeated suspension advisories on the same axle mean it's being patched, not fixed.

Full Hyundai Kona reliability report