Verdict
The Hyundai Matrix passes its MOT first time on 53.7% of tests, 5.6 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (59.3%). That puts it ahead of 27% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 2009 Matrix does best (beats 34% of cars) and the 2007 worst (beats 20%).
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
Best and worst years
By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Engines
All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 53.5% | Beats 26% | D |
| 1.8 Petrol | 55.5% | Beats 37% | D |
Where it fails
Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Suspension ball joints 2.0× typical
Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering. - Tyre damage & cracking 1.5× typical
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre. - Windscreen wipers 1.4× typical
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail. - Tyre tread depth 1.5× typical
Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems. - Track rod ends 1.7× typical
Feel for play or knocking in the steering and check for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres. - Brake performance 1.5× typical
On the test drive, brake firmly: the car should stop straight with no pulsing through the pedal.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive shaft (CV) joints | 8.8% | 2.4% | 3.7× |
| Tyre damage & cracking | 5.3% | 3.6% | 1.5× |
| Headlight aim | 5.2% | 4.9% | 1.1× |
| Brake pipes | 4.7% | 2.1% | 2.3× |
| Windscreen wipers | 4.7% | 3.2% | 1.4× |
| Airbag warning light | 4.3% | 0.9% | 4.9× |
| Tyre tread depth | 4.2% | 2.8% | 1.5× |
| Headlight bulbs & units | 3.7% | 3.6% | 1.0× |
| Windscreen washers | 3.6% | 3.0% | 1.2× |
| Suspension ball joints | 3.5% | 1.8% | 2.0× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 91.0 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 52.1 |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 51.4 |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 46.3 |
| An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction | 43.3 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 42.4 |
| Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 40.5 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 35.7 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Every year and engine
Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
2010 Hyundai Matrix1 engine63.1% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 63.1% | Beats 31% | D |
2009 Hyundai Matrix1 engine61.6% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 61.6% | Beats 34% | D |
2008 Hyundai Matrix1 engine57.5% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 57.5% | Beats 28% | D |
2007 Hyundai Matrix1 engine53.1% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 53.1% | Beats 20% | E |
2006 Hyundai Matrix2 engines53.9% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 53.6% | Beats 27% | D |
| 1.8 Petrol | 55.8% | Beats 31% | D |
2005 Hyundai Matrix2 engines52.2% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 50.9% | Beats 26% | D |
| 1.8 Petrol | 58.1% | Beats 49% | C |
2004 Hyundai Matrix2 engines50.9% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 50.9% | Beats 31% | D |
| 1.8 Petrol | 51.0% | Beats 28% | D |
2003 Hyundai Matrix1 engine49.4% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 49.4% | Beats 26% | D |
2002 Hyundai Matrix1 engine47.3% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 47.3% | Beats 22% | D |
FAQ
What is the Hyundai Matrix MOT pass rate?
53.7% of MOT tests on the Hyundai Matrix were passed first time, based on 43,967 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2002–2010. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 59.3% of the time.
Is the Hyundai Matrix reliable?
On MOT results it rates D (below average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 27% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Hyundai Matrix year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 2009 Matrix does best for its age and mileage: it beats 34% of cars on UK roads. The 2007 does worst: it beats 20%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Hyundai Matrix?
The most common failure items are drive shaft (CV) joints, tyre damage & cracking, headlight aim. Compared with similar cars, drive shaft (CV) joints comes up 3.7× as often.