2018 Hyundai Santa-Fe — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Hyundai Santa-Fe passed 89.2% of its 10,886 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as large SUVs of a similar age (10.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.6%) and brakes (3.6%) 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 headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 394 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.4% once past 120-150k — 3.2× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 393 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.6% | 388 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.5% | 377 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 324 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 143 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 106 |
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 | 394 |
| 2 | Wipers | 341 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 197 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 161 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 119 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 101 |
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 | 21.9% | 2,383 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.9% | 2,059 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.6% | 934 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.7% | 405 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 310 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 92 |
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 | 3,136 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 5,602 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,791 | 14.5% |
| 90-120k | 298 | 18.5% |
| 120-150k | 42 | 21.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,217 | 9.5% |
| 2022 | 2,175 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 2,179 | 11.0% |
| 2024 | 2,146 | 11.3% |
| 2025 | 2,169 | 12.9% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Santa-Fe
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 3.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (3.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.6% 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.
- Tyres (3.5% 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.
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 2018 Hyundai Santa-Fes pass their MOT?
89.2% of the 10,886 2018 Hyundai Santa-Fe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Hyundai Santa-Fe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by brakes (3.6%).
Does the 2018 Santa-Fe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 21.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,886 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.