Hyundai Santafe MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 317 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 32.8%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Hyundai Santafe MOT Reliability Overview
The Hyundai Santafe is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 317 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 6 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.2% and a failure rate of 32.8%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Hyundai Santafe earns a "Good" reliability rating. The average Hyundai Santafe presents for MOT with approximately 85,669 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2009 models achieve the highest pass rate at 75.0%, while 2008 models have the lowest at 58.7%. This 16.3 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Hyundai Santafe is Brakes, affecting 36.9% of all tests. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. The second most common issue is Suspension at 25.2%. Tyres rounds out the top three at 23.0%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 37.9% | 120 |
| 2 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 30.3% | 96 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.2% | 80 |
| 4 | Tyres | 23.3% | 74 |
| 5 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 9.1% | 29 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.8% | 12 |
| 7 | Driver's View Of The Road | 3.8% | 12 |
| 8 | Visibility | 2.5% | 8 |
| 9 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 2.2% | 7 |
| 10 | Non-component Advisories | 2.2% | 7 |
| 11 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 1.9% | 6 |
| 12 | Registration Plates And Vin | 0.9% | 3 |
| 13 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 0.6% | 2 |
| 14 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.6% | 2 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 85,669 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 4.42 | 37.9% | 120 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 3.53 | 30.3% | 96 |
| Suspension | 2.95 | 25.2% | 80 |
| Tyres | 2.72 | 23.3% | 74 |
| Body & Structure | 1.07 | 9.1% | 29 |
| Visibility | 0.73 | 6.3% | 20 |
| Steering | 0.44 | 3.8% | 12 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.26 | 2.2% | 7 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.26 | 2.2% | 7 |
| Seat Belts | 0.22 | 1.9% | 6 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.11 | 0.9% | 3 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.07 | 0.6% | 2 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.07 | 0.6% | 2 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Hyundai Santafe has 85,669 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Hyundai Santafe has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 3.83% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Hyundai Santafe MOT Data
The Hyundai Santafe is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 317 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 6 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.2% and a failure rate of 32.8%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Hyundai Santafe owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and suspension for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Santafe is likely to perform.
Brakes — 36.9% of failures
Brakes issues account for 36.9% of MOT failures on the Hyundai Santafe. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Suspension — 25.2% of failures
Suspension issues account for 25.2% of MOT failures on the Hyundai Santafe. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Tyres — 23.0% of failures
Tyres issues account for 23.0% of MOT failures on the Hyundai Santafe. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Hyundai Santafe?
Based on 317 MOT tests in our database, the Hyundai Santafe has an overall pass rate of 67.2% (32.8% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Hyundai Santafe?
The top 3 reasons a Hyundai Santafe fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (36.9%), 2. Suspension (25.2%), 3. Tyres (23.0%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Hyundai Santafe reliable?
With a 32.8% MOT failure rate, the Santafe is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Hyundai Santafe?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (36.9%); Suspension (25.2%); Tyres (23.0%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.