Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 Hyundai Ioniq?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2021 Hyundai Ioniq?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2021 Hyundai Ioniq?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2021 Hyundai Ioniq reliable?

Based on MOT data from 9,062 vehicles, the 2021 Hyundai Ioniq has a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2021 Hyundai Ioniq?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2021 Hyundai Ioniq are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (18.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (18.4% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (11.1% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2021 Hyundai Ioniq?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Hyundai Ioniq (2021)

9,062 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.2% first-time pass rate

2021 Hyundai Ioniq

CarHunch analysed 9,062 real MOT records for the 2021 Hyundai Ioniq. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2021 Hyundai Ioniq is genuinely reliable—a first-time pass rate of 90.1% sits well above the UK average of 80%, and dangerous defects are rare at 8.4%. The fully electric version (91.5% pass rate) is notably more dependable than the hybrid (89.5%), so if you have the choice, the pure EV pulls ahead marginally.

At 40,682 miles median for a three-year-old car, these are relatively lightly used examples, which partly explains the strong MOT results; however, when failures do occur they're minor—just 0.34 per vehicle on average. Before purchase, check the service history carefully and confirm whether you're looking at the hybrid or electric variant, as it genuinely affects long-term MOT prospects.

The 2021 Hyundai Ioniq passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (91.2% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

91.2%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

8.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.34

Over 3 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

41k

Middle half: 26k–55k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 91.2% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 1.5 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 9,062 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 9,062 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 18.9%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 6.4%

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 3.3%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Wipers & washers 2.8%

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2021.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 9,062 Hyundai Ioniq cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Hyundai Ioniq

Based on MOT data from 9,062 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 8.4% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (66%)	5,991	90.8%	0.35
Electric (34%)	3,067	92%	0.31

Colour Breakdown

Based on 41,372 Hyundai Ioniq vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Grey 27.1%

11,202

White 24.4%

10,086

Black 16.3%

6,763

Blue 16.1%

6,660

Silver 11.3%

4,685

Red 3.8%

1,579

Orange 0.7%

275

Brown 0.2%

Yellow 0%

Turquoise 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Hyundai Ioniq vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

40,682

typical

25,665

low mileage

54,974

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Hyundai Ioniq vehicles fall between 25,665 and 54,974 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 25,665 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 25,665–54,974 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Hyundai Ioniqs sit.

⚠ Over 74,214 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2021 Hyundai Ioniq — Still on the Road

Almost all 2021 Hyundai Ioniqs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 8,541 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 98% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2022–2025.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.34

Avg failures per vehicle

1.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Hyundai Ioniq: All Ioniq years → Which year to buy? →

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022

Or browse all models: Hyundai →

Compare with another model

See how the 2021 Hyundai Ioniq stacks up against a rival.

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