2003 Hyundai Santa-Fe — MOT failures & pass rate
3,066 MOT tests on the 2003 Hyundai Santa-Fe are in this dataset, and 71.2% of them passed. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 25.4% of the time, so this is 3.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests against 13.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, joints and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 293 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 33.0% versus 18.7%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 27.8% fail against 29.7% for diesel, a 1.9-point gap across 3,066 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 547 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.2% | 405 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 328 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.2% | 314 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.8% | 208 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 165 |
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 | 293 |
| 2 | Joints | 216 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 193 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 189 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 187 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 167 |
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 | 40.8% | 1,251 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.7% | 1,033 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 28.1% | 862 |
| 4 | Tyres | 25.5% | 781 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 25.0% | 767 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.5% | 722 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 155 | 18.7% |
| 60-90k | 563 | 23.8% |
| 90-120k | 916 | 27.1% |
| 120-150k | 801 | 33.2% |
| 150k+ | 625 | 33.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,621 | 29.7% |
| Petrol | 1,445 | 27.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,004 | 28.5% |
| 2022 | 767 | 29.7% |
| 2023 | 563 | 29.3% |
| 2024 | 425 | 28.7% |
| 2025 | 307 | 27.0% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Santa-Fe
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.2% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.7% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2003 Hyundai Santa-Fes pass their MOT?
71.2% of the 3,066 2003 Hyundai Santa-Fe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Hyundai Santa-Fe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by suspension (13.2%).
Does the 2003 Santa-Fe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.7% in the 30-60k band to 33.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,066 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.