2010 Hyundai Ix35 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Hyundai Ix35 passed 73.8% of its 19,298 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (25.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.3%) and lighting & signalling (12.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, tread depth and ball joint — position lamp alone was recorded 1,218 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.8% versus 16.5%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 25.4% of the time against 26.3% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 31.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 24.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.3% | 2,571 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 2,404 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.4% | 2,017 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.2% | 1,186 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 879 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 433 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 1,218 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,126 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 947 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 916 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 816 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 779 |
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 | 31.0% | 5,977 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.6% | 5,526 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.5% | 5,504 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.6% | 2,431 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 1,586 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 832 |
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 | 91 | 16.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,251 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 5,461 | 23.6% |
| 90-120k | 7,419 | 27.2% |
| 120-150k | 3,693 | 29.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,382 | 29.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 17,129 | 26.3% |
| Petrol | 2,169 | 25.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,151 | 24.1% |
| 2022 | 4,041 | 24.6% |
| 2023 | 3,904 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 3,812 | 28.2% |
| 2025 | 3,390 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Ix35
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.4% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2010 Hyundai Ix35s pass their MOT?
73.8% of the 19,298 2010 Hyundai Ix35 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Hyundai Ix35?
Suspension, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.5%).
Does the 2010 Ix35 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.5% in the 0-30k band to 29.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,298 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.