2016 Hyundai Santa-Fe — MOT failures & pass rate
24,619 MOT tests on the 2016 Hyundai Santa-Fe are in this dataset, and 86.6% of them passed. That is effectively the same as large SUVs of a similar age (12.5% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.6%) and lighting & signalling (4.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 939 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.3% once past 150k — 3.7× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.6% | 1,137 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 1,045 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.2% | 1,026 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.9% | 712 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 663 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 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 | 939 |
| 2 | Wipers | 581 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 566 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 415 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 406 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 392 |
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 | 25.8% | 6,343 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.3% | 4,986 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.5% | 2,338 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.5% | 1,850 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 803 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 600 |
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 | 2,136 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 11,611 | 11.4% |
| 60-90k | 8,078 | 15.6% |
| 90-120k | 2,252 | 19.8% |
| 120-150k | 392 | 22.2% |
| 150k+ | 150 | 25.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 24,585 | 13.4% |
| Petrol | 34 | 26.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,842 | 10.7% |
| 2022 | 4,897 | 12.1% |
| 2023 | 4,912 | 13.5% |
| 2024 | 4,985 | 14.6% |
| 2025 | 4,983 | 15.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Santa-Fe
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.2% 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 2016 Hyundai Santa-Fes pass their MOT?
86.6% of the 24,619 2016 Hyundai Santa-Fe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Hyundai Santa-Fe?
Tyres, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.2%).
Does the 2016 Santa-Fe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 0-30k band to 25.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,619 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.