Hyundai Santa Fe Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Hyundai Santa Fe car check
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe reliable? We analysed 784,797 real MOT tests across 58,527 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Hyundai Santa Fe? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Hyundai Santa Fe is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include position lamp(s) not working, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and registration plate lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Hyundai Santa Fe.
Hyundai Santa Fe Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Hyundai Santa Fe. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Hyundai Santa Fe MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Hyundai Santa Fe to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Hyundai Santa Fe Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Hyundai Santa Fe fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Hyundai Santa Fe Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Hyundai Santa Fe models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Hyundai Santa Fe Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Hyundai Santa Fe owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Hyundai Santa Fe MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Hyundai Santa Fe year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,056 | 86.6% | 24,310 | 32,668 | 43,380 |
| 2020 | 2,080 | 87.6% | 25,167 | 34,726 | 46,628 |
| 2019 | 5,792 | 87.1% | 25,978 | 37,559 | 52,633 |
| 2018 | 12,069 | 86.7% | 28,605 | 41,519 | 57,551 |
| 2017 | 21,422 | 86.1% | 33,466 | 48,166 | 66,244 |
| 2016 | 37,362 | 85.0% | 33,637 | 49,416 | 68,972 |
| 2015 | 30,118 | 84.1% | 36,611 | 54,753 | 77,118 |
| 2014 | 30,010 | 80.3% | 42,952 | 63,187 | 86,872 |
| 2013 | 19,814 | 76.8% | 47,108 | 69,473 | 94,445 |
| 2012 | 51,507 | 72.5% | 49,678 | 73,665 | 100,174 |
| 2011 | 62,824 | 71.7% | 53,755 | 79,946 | 108,122 |
| 2010 | 66,289 | 72.1% | 54,115 | 82,252 | 111,686 |
| 2009 | 19,159 | 71.8% | 51,817 | 78,185 | 105,728 |
| 2008 | 28,265 | 70.6% | 56,610 | 84,801 | 113,013 |
| 2007 | 56,404 | 69.4% | 56,393 | 84,589 | 113,526 |
| 2006 | 80,364 | 69.9% | 52,427 | 79,528 | 108,435 |
| 2005 | 57,979 | 72.9% | 54,547 | 82,257 | 111,657 |
| 2004 | 68,990 | 72.2% | 53,699 | 81,432 | 111,420 |
| 2003 | 62,943 | 72.5% | 54,146 | 80,422 | 109,686 |
| 2002 | 45,591 | 71.4% | 56,397 | 80,618 | 107,240 |
How Long Does a Hyundai Santa Fe Last?
Based on 58,527 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles on UK roads.
Hyundai Santa Fe Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Hyundai Santa Fe MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Hyundai Santa Fe
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
87.6% MOT pass rate from 2,080 tests
64.7% MOT pass rate from 133 tests
The best year to buy a used Hyundai Santa Fe is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.6% across 2,080 tests. The 2000 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Hyundai Santa Fe Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Santa Fe THIS CAR | 73.9% | 784,797 | 74,247 mi | 25 yrs |
| Hyundai I10 | 80.4% | 2,829,935 | 35,978 mi | 18 yrs |
| Hyundai I20 | 80.2% | 1,488,641 | 45,118 mi | 17 yrs |
| Hyundai I30 | 76.5% | 1,479,391 | 57,858 mi | 19 yrs |
| Mitsubishi Space Star | 69.6% | 269,279 | 62,805 mi | 26 yrs |
Compared to the Hyundai I10 (80.4% pass rate) and the Hyundai I20 (80.2% pass rate), the Hyundai Santa Fe trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Hyundai Santa Fe you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Hyundai Santa FeShould you buy a used Hyundai Santa Fe?
The Hyundai Santa Fe has an overall MOT pass rate of 73.9% across 784,797 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Hyundai Santa Fe are position lamp(s) not working (15,463 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (14,915), and registration plate lamp not working (11,266). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Hyundai Santa Fe with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Hyundai Santa Fe owner drives around 7,258 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Hyundai Santa Fe models stay on UK roads for around 25 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.