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Hyundai Tucson Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Hyundai Tucson car check

Is the Hyundai Tucson reliable? We analysed 1,015,319 real MOT tests across 133,490 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,015,319 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
82.7%
Typical Mileage
46,583mi
Annual Mileage
7,068mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
22yrs

The Hyundai Tucson is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Hyundai Tucson.

Hyundai Tucson Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Hyundai Tucson. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Hyundai Tucson MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Hyundai Tucson to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

90%
2022
86.1%
2021
86.6%
2020
86.9%
2019
86.6%
2018
86.4%
2017
84.9%
2016
83%
2015
76%
2010
75.7%
2009
75.4%
2008
74.4%
2007
73.3%
2006
73.2%
2005
73%
2004

Hyundai Tucson Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Hyundai Tucson fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 5,491
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 5,035
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 4,217
Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement 4,164

Hyundai Tucson Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Hyundai Tucson models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 20,753
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 6,095
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 4,948

Hyundai Tucson Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Hyundai Tucson owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
4,715 mi/yr
Typical
7,068 mi/yr
Average
7,802 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,944 mi/yr

Hyundai Tucson MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Hyundai Tucson year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2022 160 90.0% 18,994 26,622 39,726
2021 3,590 86.1% 20,091 29,230 41,346
2020 31,432 86.6% 19,908 28,948 40,442
2019 129,357 86.9% 22,770 32,788 45,378
2018 155,583 86.6% 25,292 37,326 52,099
2017 188,454 86.4% 29,882 43,886 61,429
2016 181,158 84.9% 32,819 48,603 68,091
2015 49,255 83.0% 35,701 52,662 73,120
2010 5,827 76.0% 44,188 67,548 94,286
2009 17,205 75.7% 44,190 68,431 95,800
2008 20,457 75.4% 46,407 71,860 99,256
2007 45,994 74.4% 48,418 74,343 101,816
2006 74,888 73.3% 48,052 74,161 101,029
2005 77,038 73.2% 47,358 73,356 100,430
2004 27,888 73.0% 48,524 74,420 100,499

How Long Does a Hyundai Tucson Last?

Based on 133,490 Hyundai Tucson vehicles on UK roads.

Average
7.7 years
Median
7.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
22 years

Hyundai Tucson Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Hyundai Tucson MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
46,583 mi
75th Percentile
69,875 mi
95th Percentile
114,506 mi
Max Recorded
1,302,018 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Hyundai Tucson

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2022

90.0% MOT pass rate from 160 tests

Year to avoid
2004

73.0% MOT pass rate from 27,888 tests

The best year to buy a used Hyundai Tucson is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.0% across 160 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Hyundai Tucson Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Hyundai Tucson THIS CAR 82.7% 1,015,319 46,583 mi 22 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
Fiat Ducato 75% 1,962,737 48,690 mi 38 yrs

Compared to the Hyundai I10 (80.4% pass rate) and the Hyundai I20 (80.2% pass rate), the Hyundai Tucson outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Hyundai Tucson?

The Hyundai Tucson has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.7% across 1,015,319 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Hyundai Tucson are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5,491 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (5,035), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (4,217). 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 Tucson 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 Tucson owner drives around 7,068 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 Tucson models stay on UK roads for around 22 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.

Hyundai Tucson — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Hyundai Tucson reliable?
Based on 1,015,319 MOT tests, the Hyundai Tucson has a 82.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Hyundai Tucson?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Hyundai Tucson do per year?
The typical Hyundai Tucson does around 7,068 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Hyundai Tucson last?
Most Hyundai Tucson models stay on UK roads for around 22 years based on our analysis of 133,490 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Hyundai Tucson?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Hyundai Tucson?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Hyundai Tucson is 2022 with a 90.0% pass rate across 160 tests.