2014 Hyundai Santa-Fe — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 15,703 MOT tests, the 2014 Hyundai Santa-Fe recorded a 78.9% pass rate. That is 6.1 percentage points worse than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 15.1%. Failures cluster in steering, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: steering, recorded in 9.5% of tests against 5.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, brake pads and tread depth — track rod end alone was recorded 1,641 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.6% in the 0-30k band and 30.7% in the 150k+ band, a 24.0-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steering | 9.5% | 1,492 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.9% | 922 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.5% | 866 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 827 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.7% | 736 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.3% | 355 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 1,641 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 578 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 523 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 335 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 314 |
| 6 | Wipers | 290 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.0% | 4,076 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.0% | 3,459 |
| 3 | Other defects | 11.8% | 1,856 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.4% | 1,635 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.0% | 1,095 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 596 |
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 | 286 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 3,442 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 6,756 | 21.2% |
| 90-120k | 3,765 | 25.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,138 | 26.0% |
| 150k+ | 313 | 30.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,103 | 18.4% |
| 2022 | 3,137 | 19.8% |
| 2023 | 3,150 | 21.1% |
| 2024 | 3,167 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 3,146 | 23.5% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Santa-Fe
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: steering accounted for 9.5% of tests. Start there.
- Steering (9.5% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
- Tyres (5.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (5.5% 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 2014 Hyundai Santa-Fes pass their MOT?
78.9% of the 15,703 2014 Hyundai Santa-Fe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Hyundai Santa-Fe?
Steering, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by tyres (5.9%).
Does the 2014 Santa-Fe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 30.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,703 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.