2015 Hyundai Santa-Fe — MOT failures & pass rate
17,292 MOT tests on the 2015 Hyundai Santa-Fe are in this dataset, and 85.1% of them passed. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 13.7% of the time, so this is 1.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.0%) and brakes (4.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, tread depth and wipers — brake pads alone was recorded 640 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.1% once past 150k — 3.1× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.0% | 1,037 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.8% | 829 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 694 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.9% | 510 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 459 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.5% | 251 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 640 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 498 |
| 3 | Wipers | 380 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 272 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 217 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 206 |
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 | 25.6% | 4,425 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.3% | 3,515 |
| 3 | Other defects | 10.1% | 1,744 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.5% | 1,303 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 637 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 575 |
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 | 835 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 6,298 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 6,617 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,652 | 18.9% |
| 120-150k | 662 | 21.3% |
| 150k+ | 226 | 26.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,397 | 11.2% |
| 2022 | 3,432 | 13.7% |
| 2023 | 3,462 | 14.9% |
| 2024 | 3,502 | 16.9% |
| 2025 | 3,499 | 17.6% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Santa-Fe
On a 2015 Santa-Fe, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.0% 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 (4.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2015 Hyundai Santa-Fes pass their MOT?
85.1% of the 17,292 2015 Hyundai Santa-Fe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Hyundai Santa-Fe?
Tyres, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by brakes (4.8%).
Does the 2015 Santa-Fe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 26.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,292 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.