The unbreakable budget runabout that just keeps going
The Getz was Hyundai's budget supermini sold from 2002 to 2009 in the UK, competing with the likes of the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa on price rather than prestige. It was aimed at first-time buyers and those needing cheap, no-nonsense transport. Now discontinued, surviving examples represent some of the cheapest usable cars on the road.
We track 5 known issues across the Hyundai GETZ range, including 1 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Hyundai GETZ? Enter the reg to see which of our 5 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
TB (2002–2011) — Petrol options included the 1.1 G4HG, 1.3 G4EA, 1.4 G4EE, 1.6 G4ED, with 1.5 CRDi on the diesel side. Our database flags 5 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Structural corrosion (£800–£2,000 to address).
The Getz suffers from severe structural corrosion affecting load-bearing areas within 30cm of suspension mounting points, significantly weakening the vehicle structure. MOT data shows this model fails at 26.6 times the national average for vehicle structure corrosion and 21.2 times the average for weakened load-bearing structure near suspension mounts. The corrosion typically affects the rear subframe mounting areas, floor pan sections, and suspension turret reinforcements. This is a progressive failure that compromises vehicle safety and control.
Structural corrosion affecting suspension mounting points creates a direct safety risk through loss of vehicle control. Advanced corrosion requires extensive welding repair costing £800-2000, often exceeding the vehicle's value. Cars with severe structural corrosion will fail MOT and become unsafe to drive.
Inspect the wheel arches, sills, jacking points and door bottoms carefully. Press gently on sills to check for soft spots. Look underneath for corrosion on structural components. Check the MOT history for corrosion-related advisories or failures.
Suspension components on the Getz corrode at an exceptionally high rate, with MOT failures occurring 41.6 times more frequently than the national average. The corrosion affects control arms, anti-roll bar links, and mounting brackets across all engine variants and mileage ranges. Suspension component dust covers also fail at 27.9 times the national rate, accelerating corrosion by allowing salt and moisture ingress. This is a progressive issue that affects ride quality, handling, and MOT compliance.
Corroded suspension components compromise handling safety and will cause MOT failure. Components may break suddenly, affecting vehicle control. Typical repair involves replacing corroded control arms, drop links, or mounting hardware. Individual components cost £50-200, but multiple items often require replacement simultaneously.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
The Getz has exceptionally high rates of CV joint boot failure, with MOT data showing failure at 43.2 times the national average. The rubber boots protecting the constant velocity joints deteriorate prematurely, allowing grease to escape and dirt to enter the joint. This affects both inner and outer CV joints on all variants and occurs across all mileage ranges including very low-mileage cars. Boot failure eventually leads to CV joint wear and clicking noises during turning.
Split CV joint boots allow grease to escape and contamination to enter, leading to premature CV joint wear. If left unrepaired, the CV joint will eventually fail, causing clicking noises and potential loss of drive. Boot replacement costs £80-150 per side, while full CV joint replacement costs £200-400 per side.
Listen for clunking or vibration from underneath when pulling away or changing direction. Check for play in the driveshafts by rocking the car in gear with the handbrake on. Worn CV boots are a telltale sign — look for grease splatter around the inner wheel arch.
Petrol Getz models suffer from induction and exhaust leaks at an extremely high rate, failing MOT tests at 47.2 times the national average. The issue primarily affects the exhaust manifold gaskets and inlet manifold sealing, causing emissions test failures. This is most severe on the 1.3-litre petrol engine but affects all petrol variants. The problem appears across all mileage ranges and has been worsening over recent years.
Exhaust and induction leaks cause MOT emissions failures and affect engine performance. Exhaust manifold leaks can worsen rapidly and create fire risks from hot gases. Repair typically involves replacing manifold gaskets and associated hardware. The engine remains safe to drive but will fail MOT testing.
Check for any engine warning lights on the dashboard. Ask about the car's MOT emissions history — repeated failures suggest underlying issues. A pre-purchase diagnostic scan is especially worthwhile to check for stored emissions fault codes.
The Getz power steering system experiences component failure at 32.5 times the national average, primarily affecting high-pressure hoses, pipes, and pump connections. The issue manifests as corrosion and deterioration of the hydraulic components, leading to fluid leaks and eventual loss of power assistance. This affects all engine variants and becomes more common with higher mileage, though failures have been recorded across all mileage ranges.
Power steering failure makes the car difficult to maneuver at low speeds but does not affect safety at normal driving speeds. Leaking fluid will eventually lead to complete loss of assistance. Repair typically involves replacing high-pressure hoses, pump seals, or the steering rack depending on failure location.
During the test drive, check the steering for excessive play, vibration or pulling to one side. Listen for groaning or whining when turning the wheel at low speed. Power steering fluid level and condition should be checked on hydraulic systems.
For the full breakdown of all 5 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Hyundai GETZ common problems page.
Based on 140k real DVSA MOT tests, the Hyundai GETZ fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is subframe bushes or mounts worn at 159x the fleet average, followed by emissions failure (47x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Hyundai GETZ MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 10k miles) typically costs £60–£90 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include timing belt (£350–£500), timing belt (diesel) (£400–£600).
See the full Hyundai GETZ service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Hyundai GETZ has some well-documented weak points, including 1 safety-critical issue that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable. 2007-2009 facelifted models are the most refined and have the fewest reported issues. These later cars benefited from incremental improvements over the production run. Earlier 2002-2004 models are more rust-prone and feel noticeably more basic.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Hyundai GETZ, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 5 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 5 known Hyundai GETZ issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.