Small car · 1996–2019 cars
Hyundai Accent reliability
The Hyundai Accent fails 46.1% of first MOT tests, 21% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 6,997 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Hyundai Accent before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 46.1%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 21% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 6,997
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Hyundai Accent ages
Each point is the share of Hyundai Accents of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Hyundai Accent | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | 42.5% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 43.7% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 44.6% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 46% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 48.4% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 50.5% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 46.9% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 46.6% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 43.7% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 48.7% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 44% | 37.1% |
| 25 | 47.3% | 35.8% |
By year
The best and worst Hyundai Accent years
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 415 | 43.4% | 12% more fails | 76,303 |
| 2007 | 818 | 44% | 11% more fails | 79,082 |
| 2006 | 825 | 46.4% | 15% more fails | 80,599 |
| 2005 Accent | 1,070 | 46.6% | 21% more fails | 69,080 |
| 2004 | 715 | 47.6% | 21% more fails | 72,676 |
| 2003 | 531 | 48.4% | 24% more fails | 71,232 |
| 2002 | 950 | 45.7% | 20% more fails | 68,388 |
| 2001 | 528 | 48.7% | 34% more fails | 63,216 |
| 2000 | 416 | 47.6% | 34% more fails | 62,258 |
| 1999 | 310 | 45.5% | 34% more fails | 63,873 |
| 1998 | 223 | 44.4% | 32% more fails | 68,996 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Hyundai Accent
Its weak spot is number plates and vin: 112% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics21.3%23% above avg
- Brakes17.2%61% above avg
- Suspension14.9%12% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure12.2%69% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors10.2%48% above avg
- Tyres7.6%34% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks6.7%17% above avg
- Steering2.5%12% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags2%11% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Position lamp not working 5.97% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Stop lamp not working 5.52% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 3
CV joint boot split or insecure 5.1% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 4.9% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 5
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 3.23% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 6
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 3.23% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
- 7
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 3.03% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 8
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2.73% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Hyundai Accent's MOT certificate most often.
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy19.21%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit13.96%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking12.79%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive11.79%
- Brake disc pitted or scored9.95%
- Number plate lettering deteriorating8.85%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Hyundai Accent
- 1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 3
CV joint boot split or insecure
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol98.6%
- Diesel1.4%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Silver, Blue, Red, Black, White
Average engine size: 1.4 litres.
Compare
How the Hyundai Accent compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Vitz | 12.6% | 50% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan Cube | 29.3% | 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan Figaro | 36.7% | 9% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MG ZR | 37.5% | 7% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Suzuki Liana | 48.6% | 19% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Hyundai Accent | 46.1% | 21% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chevrolet Kalos | 53.6% | 44% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every small car ranked in the small car reliability index, or all Hyundai models.
Questions
Hyundai Accent questions, answered
Is the Hyundai Accent reliable?
On MOT results, the Hyundai Accent is below average: it fails 46.1% of first MOT tests, 21% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 38 of 63 small car models in our index.
What fails most on a Hyundai Accent MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Hyundai Accent are position lamp not working (5.97% of tests), stop lamp not working (5.52% of tests), cv joint boot split or insecure (5.1% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 21.3% of its tests.
How do I check a Hyundai Accent before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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