2009 Hyundai Santa-Fe — MOT failures & pass rate
4,895 MOT tests on the 2009 Hyundai Santa-Fe are in this dataset, and 72.7% of them passed. Against large SUVs of a similar age (21.5% fail rate), the 2009 Santa-Fe comes out 5.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.1%) and suspension (14.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, position lamp and track rod end — ball joint alone was recorded 556 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.6% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 28.6% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.9% in 2021 to 25.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 786 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.3% | 701 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.8% | 529 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.5% | 269 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.1% | 252 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 231 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 556 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 451 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 260 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 238 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 183 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 180 |
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 | 38.7% | 1,896 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.9% | 1,658 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.1% | 1,376 |
| 4 | Other defects | 16.4% | 804 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 767 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.1% | 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 | 205 | 15.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,166 | 24.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,939 | 28.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,167 | 29.3% |
| 150k+ | 409 | 28.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,751 | 27.4% |
| Petrol | 144 | 25.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,255 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 1,112 | 27.3% |
| 2023 | 1,005 | 27.8% |
| 2024 | 851 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 672 | 25.3% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Santa-Fe
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.1% 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 (10.8% 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 2009 Hyundai Santa-Fes pass their MOT?
72.7% of the 4,895 2009 Hyundai Santa-Fe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Hyundai Santa-Fe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by suspension (14.3%).
Does the 2009 Santa-Fe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.6% in the 30-60k band to 28.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,895 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.