What goes wrong, what it costs, and what to check before you buy a used Hyundai Trajet.
The Hyundai Trajet occupies a niche position on the UK market.
We track 5 known issues across the Hyundai Trajet range, including 2 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Hyundai Trajet? Enter the reg to see which of our 5 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
FO (2000–2008) — Petrol options included the 2.0 G4GC, 2.0 Beta, with 2.0 CRDi on the diesel side. Our database flags 5 known issues on this generation, 2 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Subframe mounting point corrosion (£800–£2,000 to address).
The load-bearing structure around subframe, spring and suspension mounting points suffers severe corrosion on the Trajet, particularly affecting the rear subframe where the multi-link rear suspension attaches. Korean-built vehicles from this era used thinner steel sections that are vulnerable to road salt penetration. The corrosion typically starts around the mounting bushes and spreads through the structural metalwork. This is classed as a prescribed area failure under MOT testing and renders the vehicle immediately dangerous to drive.
Subframe separation from the monocoque causes immediate loss of suspension geometry and potential wheel detachment. The vehicle becomes uncontrollable and poses extreme danger to occupants and other road users. Professional structural welding repair costs £800-2,000 if caught early, but advanced corrosion often renders the vehicle beyond economical repair.
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.
Brake pipes on the Trajet suffer from premature corrosion, with MOT failure rates 3.7 times higher than the fleet average. The steel brake lines are inadequately protected against road salt and moisture, with the rear brake lines particularly vulnerable where they run along the underside of the vehicle. Corrosion typically starts at pipe clips, unions, and areas where the protective coating has been damaged by stone impact.
Corroded brake pipes can rupture without warning causing catastrophic brake failure and loss of stopping ability. Even minor leaks reduce braking efficiency and can lead to complete system failure. The vehicle becomes extremely dangerous to drive with any brake pipe damage. Professional brake pipe replacement costs £200-600 depending on which lines are affected and their accessibility.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
The constant velocity joint protective boots on driveshafts deteriorate prematurely on the Trajet, with the outer joints particularly affected. The rubber boot material appears to harden and crack earlier than expected, allowing water and contamination into the CV joint. This is most severe on petrol variants where MOT data shows failure rates 8.7 times higher than the fleet average. Once the boot splits, rapid CV joint wear follows within a few thousand miles.
Split boots allow rapid contamination of the CV joint leading to clicking, then grinding, then complete joint failure. A failed CV joint can cause sudden loss of drive to one wheel and potential shaft separation. Boot replacement costs £150-300 per side if caught early, but delayed repair necessitates complete driveshaft replacement at £300-600 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.
Suspension components including control arms, links and brackets suffer excessive corrosion on the Trajet, particularly the multi-link rear suspension assembly. The steel components were not adequately protected against UK road conditions and corrosion accelerates once the protective coating is compromised. Diesel variants show higher failure rates in MOT data, likely due to higher average mileages exposing them to more winter salt exposure.
Corroded suspension components can fracture without warning causing sudden loss of vehicle control. The multi-link rear suspension is particularly vulnerable and failure can cause rapid tyre wear, poor handling, and in extreme cases component separation. Repair involves replacement of affected arms and links at £200-500 per component depending on location and accessibility.
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.
Coil springs on the Trajet are prone to fracturing, with MOT data showing failure rates 4.4 times higher than the fleet average. The springs appear to be undersized for the vehicle weight, particularly when fully loaded as a seven-seater. Spring fractures typically occur at the lower coils where stress concentrates during compression. Petrol variants show higher failure rates, possibly due to different spring specifications or usage patterns.
A fractured spring can pierce the tyre causing sudden deflation and loss of control. Broken springs also cause severe handling problems, uneven tyre wear, and can damage other suspension components through altered geometry. The sharp metal edges pose a significant safety risk to anyone working under the vehicle. Spring replacement costs £100-200 per corner including labour.
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.
For the full breakdown of all 5 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Hyundai Trajet common problems page.
Based on 4k real DVSA MOT tests, the Hyundai Trajet fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is abs fault at 19x the fleet average, followed by structural corrosion (12x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Hyundai Trajet MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 10k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include timing belt (£350–£500).
See the full Hyundai Trajet service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Hyundai Trajet has some well-documented weak points, including 2 safety-critical issues 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.
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 Trajet, 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 Trajet issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.