2025 MOT results
Hyundai Matrix common problems
The most common reason a Hyundai Matrix fails its MOT is a split joint boot, on 22.7% of its 1,346 failed tests in 2025. Against other cars of the same age, 5 faults stand out, the widest gaps being: the airbag light on at 9.7% of failures against 2.6% expected; a split joint boot at 22.7% of failures against 6.9% expected; corroded brake pipes at 7.7% of failures against 3.6% expected.
- Tests in 2025 2,810 Cars aged three and over
- Failed first time 47.9% 1,346 tests
- Found a dangerous defect 13.7% Unsafe to drive away
- Ended with an advisory 73.1% A problem to watch, not a failure
What fails a Hyundai Matrix MOT
Each bar is the share of failed Hyundai Matrix tests with that defect. Where we can compare it with cars of the same registration years, the marker shows what an average car of those ages records (11 of the 12 items below).
Most common reasons for failure
A test can fail for more than one defect, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure | 22.7% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension | 11.5% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 11.2% |
| SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 9.7% |
| Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened Suspension | 9.7% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 9.0% |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded Brakes | 7.7% |
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 7.3% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 7.2% |
| Service brake performance: excessively binding Brakes | 6.2% |
| Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play Steering | 6.2% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility | 6.2% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
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Split joint boot
22.7% of failures 6.9% expected 3.3 times as often
A split rubber boot on a joint or driveshaft. The joint may still be sound, but dirt and water get in once the boot is open.
Turn the wheels to full lock and look behind them for greasy splits in the rubber concertina.
-
Worn steering or suspension joint
11.5% of failures 5.5% expected 2.1 times as often
Play in a steering or suspension joint, where a worn ball and socket lets the wheel move where it should not.
A knock at low speed over rough ground, or vague steering, is the usual warning.
-
Headlamp aim out of line
11.2% of failures 9.0% expected somewhat more often
The beam pattern points too high, too low, or in the wrong place, so it either dazzles others or lights too little road.
Nothing to do at the roadside, but a garage resets the aim in minutes; a sagging suspension corner or a heavy boot load can throw it out.
-
Airbag light on
9.7% of failures 2.6% expected 3.7 times as often
The airbag warning light shows a fault in the restraint system.
Common causes are a seat belt buckle sensor, or a wiring loom under a front seat.
-
Wiper blades that do not clear the screen
9.0% of failures 6.2% expected 1.5 times as often
Wiper blades that leave the windscreen smeared or streaked across the area the driver looks through.
Look for split or hardened rubber, and lift each blade to see whether it still sits flat.
Which parts of the car fail
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment is the area that most often fails a Hyundai Matrix, on 38.3% of failed tests. The widest gap against cars of the same registration years is body, chassis, structure, on 29.5% against 18.4% expected.
Failure categories
DVSA's own sections of the test. The marker is what cars of the same registration years record.
| Defect category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 38.3% |
| Suspension | 36.3% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 29.5% |
| Brakes | 28.2% |
| Visibility | 20.9% |
| Tyres | 19.0% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 12.6% |
| Steering | 10.2% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What testers warn about
73.1% of Hyundai Matrix tests ended with at least one advisory: a fault the tester found that did not fail the test. On Hyundai Matrixes, these are the items to ask about on a car you are viewing, because they are what the last tester expected to go next.
Most common advisories
Share of all tests, passes included.
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 23.4% |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes | 22.8% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 12.7% |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened Suspension | 12.2% |
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 9.4% |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle | 8.9% |
| Exhaust system: minor leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 7.4% |
| Shock absorbers: light misting of oil Suspension | 7.0% |
| Headlamp: product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 6.6% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 6.5% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes | 5.0% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 5.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Hyundai Matrix problems: common questions
What is the most common problem with a Hyundai Matrix?
Of the faults that fail an MOT, “Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” is the most common: it appears on 22.7% of failed Hyundai Matrix tests. Across categories, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment is the area that most often fails one, on 38.3% of failed tests.
How often does a Hyundai Matrix fail its MOT?
47.9% of Hyundai Matrix tests in 2025 were not passed first time, from 2,810 tests of cars aged three and over. Allowing for the age and mileage of the cars tested, that gives it a UK Motoring Reliability Score of 36 out of 100, where 50 is as expected.
Does anything fail more often on a Hyundai Matrix than on other cars?
Yes. “SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault” appears on 9.7% of its failures against 2.6% for cars of the same age, and “Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” appears on 22.7% of its failures against 6.9% for cars of the same age. Where an item is missing from the national figures for a year, we use the smallest share those figures show, so the comparison never overstates the difference.
Are these the same as breakdowns or known faults?
No. These are the items a tester recorded at the MOT, which covers condition and safety: lamps, brakes, tyres, suspension, corrosion and emissions. A gearbox that is unpleasant, an infotainment screen that has died, or a car that will not start on a cold morning are not part of the test, so they are not in these figures.
Where do the figures come from?
Every normal MOT test of a Hyundai Matrix aged three and over in Great Britain in 2025, from DVSA's anonymised MOT results. Retests are excluded, and the same fault on more than one wheel counts once.
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT defects and advisories | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 2,810 MOT tests | 19 September 2026 |
- Shares for defects are of failed tests; shares for advisories are of all tests. A test can carry several defects, so shares add to more than 100%.
- The expected share is what an average car of the same registration years records, weighted by where this model’s failures fall. Where an item is outside the national figures for a year, the smallest share those figures show is used in its place, which is an upper bound, so the comparison never overstates a model’s problems. No expectation is published where less than 80% of the model’s failures can be compared.
- Great Britain only: DVSA does not run MOT testing in Northern Ireland. Cars under three years old are not tested.
- The descriptions of what each part does are general and the same on every model. Every figure comes from the MOT data.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.