2001 Hyundai Santa-Fe — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Hyundai Santa-Fe passed 71.1% of its 408 recorded MOT tests. Against large SUVs of a similar age (25.2% fail rate), the 2001 Santa-Fe comes out 3.8pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.8% of tests against 16.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and stop lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 41 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 29.3% versus 25.0%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 46.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 37.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.8% | 85 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.7% | 68 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.3% | 42 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 30 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.3% | 30 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 17 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 41 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 28 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 26 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 21 |
| 5 | Wipers | 21 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 20 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 46.6% | 190 |
| 2 | Suspension | 46.3% | 189 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 27.0% | 110 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.8% | 101 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 24.3% | 99 |
| 6 | Tyres | 23.8% | 97 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 108 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 148 | 29.0% |
| 120-150k | 83 | 32.5% |
| 150k+ | 41 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 292 | 27.4% |
| Diesel | 116 | 32.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 130 | 26.2% |
| 2022 | 112 | 29.5% |
| 2023 | 72 | 26.4% |
| 2024 | 54 | 31.5% |
| 2025 | 40 | 37.5% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Santa-Fe
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.7% 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.
- Brakes (10.3% 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 2001 Hyundai Santa-Fes pass their MOT?
71.1% of the 408 2001 Hyundai Santa-Fe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Hyundai Santa-Fe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.8% of tests, followed by suspension (16.7%).
Does the 2001 Santa-Fe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.0% in the 60-90k band to 29.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 408 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.