2019 Hyundai Santa-Fe — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,072 MOT tests, the 2019 Hyundai Santa-Fe recorded an 89.8% pass rate. Large SUVs of a similar age fail at 9.8%, so the 2019 Santa-Fe sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.0%) and lighting & signalling (2.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 154 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 12.5% once past 90-120k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.0% | 154 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 148 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.8% | 140 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 138 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 87 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.6% | 83 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 154 |
| 2 | Wipers | 150 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 131 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 108 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 85 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 84 |
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 | 21.2% | 1,075 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.7% | 896 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.0% | 407 |
| 4 | Steering | 4.5% | 231 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.9% | 198 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 159 |
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 | 1,810 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 2,543 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 593 | 15.0% |
| 90-120k | 112 | 12.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,040 | 10.1% |
| Petrol | 32 | 12.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 43 | 9.3% |
| 2022 | 1,289 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 1,271 | 9.4% |
| 2024 | 1,258 | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 1,211 | 11.6% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Santa-Fe
On a 2019 Santa-Fe, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.8% 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.
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 2019 Hyundai Santa-Fes pass their MOT?
89.8% of the 5,072 2019 Hyundai Santa-Fe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Hyundai Santa-Fe?
Tyres, recorded in 3.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.9%).
Does the 2019 Santa-Fe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 12.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,072 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.