2007 Hyundai Santa-Fe — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Hyundai Santa-Fe passed 71.2% of its 9,522 recorded MOT tests. Against large SUVs of a similar age (23.5% fail rate), the 2007 Santa-Fe comes out 5.3pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.8% of tests against 14.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, ball joint and track rod end — position lamp alone was recorded 1,379 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 30.2% versus 19.5%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.8% 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 | 18.8% | 1,790 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.3% | 1,364 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.6% | 1,012 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.5% | 715 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.7% | 538 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 428 |
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 | 1,379 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 875 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 731 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 426 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 372 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 315 |
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 | 39.8% | 3,794 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.8% | 3,222 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.6% | 2,822 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.9% | 1,704 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.5% | 1,668 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 16.7% | 1,591 |
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 | 256 | 19.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,284 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 3,413 | 29.2% |
| 120-150k | 2,988 | 30.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,550 | 30.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,336 | 28.9% |
| Petrol | 186 | 26.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,568 | 28.0% |
| 2022 | 2,336 | 29.8% |
| 2023 | 1,900 | 28.6% |
| 2024 | 1,545 | 29.3% |
| 2025 | 1,173 | 28.2% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Santa-Fe
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.3% 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.
- Brakes (10.6% 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 2007 Hyundai Santa-Fes pass their MOT?
71.2% of the 9,522 2007 Hyundai Santa-Fe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Hyundai Santa-Fe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.8% of tests, followed by suspension (14.3%).
Does the 2007 Santa-Fe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.5% in the 30-60k band to 30.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,522 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.