2006 Hyundai Santa-Fe — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 10,486 MOT tests, the 2006 Hyundai Santa-Fe recorded a 69.6% pass rate. That is 6.2 percentage points worse than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 24.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.4% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, ball joint and track rod end — position lamp alone was recorded 1,316 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.0% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.8pp more often than petrol ones (30.8% vs 29.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 1,934 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.6% | 1,536 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.1% | 1,265 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 844 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.3% | 770 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.4% | 562 |
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 | 1,316 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 855 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 747 |
| 4 | Joints | 621 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 526 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 498 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 39.3% | 4,120 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.5% | 3,615 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.1% | 2,845 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.3% | 2,021 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.9% | 1,983 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.3% | 1,817 |
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 | 39 | 20.5% |
| 30-60k | 377 | 21.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,973 | 28.2% |
| 90-120k | 3,576 | 30.9% |
| 120-150k | 3,015 | 31.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,502 | 33.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,525 | 30.8% |
| Petrol | 1,961 | 29.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,128 | 30.2% |
| 2022 | 2,591 | 30.6% |
| 2023 | 2,060 | 30.9% |
| 2024 | 1,547 | 30.5% |
| 2025 | 1,160 | 29.7% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Santa-Fe
On a 2006 Santa-Fe, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.6% 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 (12.1% 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.
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 2006 Hyundai Santa-Fes pass their MOT?
69.6% of the 10,486 2006 Hyundai Santa-Fe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Hyundai Santa-Fe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.4% of tests, followed by suspension (14.6%).
Does the 2006 Santa-Fe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.5% in the 0-30k band to 33.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,486 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.