Hyundai Ix35 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 21 model years and 330,256 tests, the Hyundai Ix35 passes its MOT 78.3% of the time. That is 2.0 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 19.7%. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
Best and worst Ix35 years
Ranked across Ix35 years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Build year matters more than the headline suggests: 2016 cars pass 83.9% of the time while 2010 cars manage 73.8%, a 10.1-point spread.
No single area dominates — brakes (10.1%) and lighting & signalling (8.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, service brake performance and rbt (sp) — tread depth alone was recorded 15,565 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.8% in the 0-30k band and 29.1% in the 150k+ band, a 19.2-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 20.5% of the time against 21.9% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Ix35 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 19,298 | 73.8% | 26.2% | Suspension |
| 2011 | 34,368 | 74.1% | 25.9% | Suspension |
| 2012 | 54,208 | 75.8% | 24.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 68,376 | 76.0% | 24.0% | Brakes |
| 2014 | 81,950 | 80.9% | 19.1% | Brakes |
| 2015 | 70,103 | 82.7% | 17.3% | Brakes |
| 2016 | 1,912 | 83.9% | 16.1% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 10.1% | 33,504 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 28,747 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.5% | 21,438 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.4% | 21,110 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 12,470 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.9% | 9,402 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 2,977 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 2,492 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 15,565 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 12,967 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 12,840 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 12,016 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 11,248 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 10,729 |
| 7 | Wipers | 7,966 |
| 8 | Headlamp aim | 7,673 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 28.7% | 94,666 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.8% | 91,732 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.5% | 51,111 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.2% | 36,877 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 22,296 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.8% | 12,464 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 6,683 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 74,177 | 14.9% |
| 60-90k | 132,611 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 82,973 | 26.2% |
| 120-150k | 26,677 | 28.7% |
| 150k+ | 7,107 | 29.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 280,857 | 21.9% |
| Petrol | 49,385 | 20.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 66,357 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 66,817 | 20.3% |
| 2023 | 66,720 | 21.7% |
| 2024 | 66,206 | 23.4% |
| 2025 | 64,156 | 24.2% |
What to check before buying a Hyundai Ix35
- Brakes (10.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (8.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Hyundai Ix35?
78.3% of the 330,256 Hyundai Ix35 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 21.7% fail rate, across model years 2001–2021.
What does the Hyundai Ix35 most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 10.1% of tests, then lighting & signalling (8.7%).
Which Ix35 years are best and worst for MOT results?
2016 has the best pass rate at 83.9% and 2010 the weakest at 73.8%, from 1,912 and 19,298 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Ix35 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 9.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 29.1% for 150k+, a 19.2-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Ix35 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 20.5% of the time against 21.9% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 330,256 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.