2008 Hyundai Santa-Fe — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Hyundai Santa-Fe passed 71.8% of its 6,010 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.7 percentage points worse than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 22.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.3%) and suspension (14.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, ball joint and track rod end — position lamp alone was recorded 722 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.0% in the 30-60k band and 29.8% in the 150k+ band, a 6.8-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 38.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 1,040 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.5% | 870 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.6% | 576 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.1% | 426 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.0% | 358 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 255 |
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 | 722 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 575 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 438 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 263 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 242 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 201 |
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 | 38.5% | 2,313 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.5% | 2,012 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.4% | 1,825 |
| 4 | Other defects | 17.8% | 1,068 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 954 |
| 6 | Steering | 14.0% | 842 |
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 | 135 | 23.0% |
| 60-90k | 898 | 25.6% |
| 90-120k | 2,253 | 28.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,905 | 29.5% |
| 150k+ | 793 | 29.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,933 | 28.3% |
| Petrol | 76 | 22.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,576 | 26.9% |
| 2022 | 1,463 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 1,249 | 29.5% |
| 2024 | 983 | 28.2% |
| 2025 | 739 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Santa-Fe
On a 2008 Santa-Fe, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.5% 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 (9.6% 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 2008 Hyundai Santa-Fes pass their MOT?
71.8% of the 6,010 2008 Hyundai Santa-Fe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Hyundai Santa-Fe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by suspension (14.5%).
Does the 2008 Santa-Fe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.0% in the 30-60k band to 29.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,010 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.