What year Hyundai Sonata is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 2005 Hyundai Sonata has the highest pass rate at 77.9%, out of 543 vehicles tested.

What are the most common Hyundai Sonata MOT failures?

The most common Hyundai Sonata MOT failures vary by year. Check the individual year pages for detailed defect breakdowns — links in the table above.

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Hyundai Sonata — Reliability by Year

7,788 vehicles · MOT data 1994–2009 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the Hyundai Sonata was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →

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Best pass rate year

2005

77.9% pass rate · 543 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

1994

68.0% pass rate · 326 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
2009	75.8%	57,636 mi	109
2008	75.4%	64,251 mi	154
2007	76.7%	66,780 mi	375
2006	76.5%	63,632 mi	544
2005	77.9%	52,615 mi	543
2004	77.5%	58,421 mi	459
2003	76.3%	57,934 mi	584
2002	74.6%	61,849 mi	430
2001	74.8%	63,305 mi	377
2000	71.1%	68,786 mi	573
1999	69.8%	74,516 mi	1,008
1998	68.7%	77,137 mi	822
1997	70.0%	83,691 mi	684
1996	69.7%	85,690 mi	437
1995	70.4%	91,420 mi	363
1994	68.0%	91,088 mi	326

Which year Hyundai Sonata is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests.

Tests range from an average of 52,615 miles (newest year) to 91,420 miles (oldest year). Older years naturally accumulate more tests at higher mileages — see the mileage-normalised breakdown →

Trying to decide which year to buy?

We've done the full analysis — which years to look for, which to avoid, and where to find the best value for reliability on a Hyundai Sonata.

See the buying guide →

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