Used car guide · 2000–2008

Hyundai Amica common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Hyundai Amica, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 17,290 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

17,290MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
5,926on the UK register
2008best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2008200720062003200220012000

What usually goes wrong with a Hyundai Amica?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Hyundai Amica in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Hyundai Amica MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 3.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Braking performance

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Wheel bearings

    up to 4.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000 and 2001.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

  • Brakes pulling to one side

    up to 3.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001 and 2002.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Suspension arm

    up to 2.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006 and 2007.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 1.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

Hyundai Amica MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2008 Hyundai Amica did best (60% passed first time, 3 points above all 2008 cars) and the 2006 did worst (56%, 0 points above all 2006 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200860%57% +32,640
200758%57% +16,326
200656%56% +05,332
200253%58% -51,196
200152%60% -8970
200047%61% -14826

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Hyundai Amica

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.2× as often on the Hyundai Amica as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the Hyundai Amica as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the wheel bearings? (Flagged at MOT 4.5× as often on the Hyundai Amica as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Hyundai Amica?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score