2011 Hyundai Santa-Fe — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Hyundai Santa-Fe passed 71.7% of its 23,265 recorded MOT tests. Against large SUVs of a similar age (19.2% fail rate), the 2011 Santa-Fe comes out 9.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.7% of all tests — 5.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, joints and ball joint — position lamp alone was recorded 2,177 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.7% versus 18.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.7% | 4,342 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.2% | 3,076 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.2% | 2,367 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 2,011 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.0% | 1,163 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 846 |
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 | 2,177 |
| 2 | Joints | 2,025 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 1,755 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,245 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 866 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 865 |
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 | 34.4% | 7,991 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.3% | 7,289 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.1% | 6,079 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 3,586 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.2% | 2,839 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 2,274 |
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 | 66 | 18.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,373 | 21.1% |
| 60-90k | 5,864 | 25.9% |
| 90-120k | 8,509 | 29.3% |
| 120-150k | 5,142 | 30.3% |
| 150k+ | 2,311 | 30.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 23,183 | 28.3% |
| Petrol | 82 | 30.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,948 | 26.9% |
| 2022 | 4,934 | 28.0% |
| 2023 | 4,784 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 4,472 | 29.2% |
| 2025 | 4,127 | 28.7% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Santa-Fe
On a 2011 Santa-Fe, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.7% 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.
- Brakes (10.2% 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 2011 Hyundai Santa-Fes pass their MOT?
71.7% of the 23,265 2011 Hyundai Santa-Fe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Hyundai Santa-Fe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.7% of tests, followed by suspension (13.2%).
Does the 2011 Santa-Fe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.2% in the 0-30k band to 30.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 23,265 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.