Hyundai Trajet MOT Failures

An analysis of 4,058 real DVSA MOT tests on the Hyundai Trajet — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: FO (2000–2008).

Where the Hyundai Trajet fails its MOT

The single biggest MOT failure point on the Hyundai Trajet is abs fault — this model is 19 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a significant weak point for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 4,058 MOT tests, 12.59% of all Hyundai Trajet tests recorded this as a failure.

Suspension failures typically mean worn bushes, drop links, or dampers. These affect handling and tyre wear. Budget £150–£400 per corner at an independent garage for full suspension overhaul.

Other notable weak points include suspension component damaged or corroded (9.1x the fleet average), structural corrosion (12x the fleet average), seat mounting fault (9.0x the fleet average), and transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot... (8.7x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Hyundai Trajet's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.

The failures span 4 categories: Suspension, Bodywork, Seatbelts & Airbags, Lights & Electrics. If you're inspecting a Hyundai Trajet before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.

How failures change with mileage

The Hyundai Trajet's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.

60,000 to 100,000 miles

This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.

For the Hyundai Trajet specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are structural corrosion (12x the average) and suspension component damaged or corroded (9.1x). abs fault (8.6x) and headlight fault (7.8x) also appear frequently.

Over 100,000 miles

High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.

For the Hyundai Trajet specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are abs fault (19x the average) and seat mounting fault (6.7x). structural corrosion (6.0x) and suspension component damaged or corroded (5.7x) also appear frequently.

The shift from structural corrosion at lower mileages to abs fault at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.

Known issues beyond the MOT

An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Hyundai Trajet specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.

Subframe mounting point corrosion (FO) Dangerous

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. Affects FO; typical independent garage repair cost is £800–£2,000.

Brake pipe corrosion (FO) Dangerous

Brake pipes on the Trajet suffer from premature corrosion, with MOT failure rates 3.7 times higher than the fleet average. Affects FO; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£600.

CV joint boot deterioration (FO) Major

The constant velocity joint protective boots on driveshafts deteriorate prematurely on the Trajet, with the outer joints particularly affected. Affects FO; typical independent garage repair cost is £150–£300.

Suspension component corrosion (FO) Major

Suspension components including control arms, links and brackets suffer excessive corrosion on the Trajet, particularly the multi-link rear suspension assembly. Affects FO; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£600.

For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Hyundai Trajet common problems breakdown.

What to check before buying a Hyundai Trajet

Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Hyundai Trajet:

Suspension — check for abs fault, suspension component damaged or corroded. Bodywork — check for structural corrosion, transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot.... Seatbelts & Airbags — check for seat mounting fault.

Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about subframe mounting point corrosion and brake pipe corrosion. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £800. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.

Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.

MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.