2023 Hyundai Santa-Fe — MOT failures & pass rate
704 MOT tests on the 2023 Hyundai Santa-Fe are in this dataset, and 96.5% of them passed. That is 3.4 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 6.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.0%) and lighting & signalling (1.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 6 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 1.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 6.2% once past 60-90k — 4.7× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 0.0% of tests failed in 2023 against 4.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.0% | 21 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 10 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.9% | 6 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.6% | 4 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 2 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.1% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 6 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 6 |
| 3 | Wipers | 4 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 4 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 3 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 2 |
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 | 18.0% | 127 |
| 2 | Other defects | 6.0% | 42 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.4% | 31 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.3% | 16 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.1% | 8 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 3 |
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 | 307 | 1.3% |
| 30-60k | 300 | 4.7% |
| 60-90k | 81 | 6.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 33 | 0.0% |
| 2024 | 184 | 1.1% |
| 2025 | 487 | 4.7% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Santa-Fe
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.0% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (1.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.9% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2023 Hyundai Santa-Fes pass their MOT?
96.5% of the 704 2023 Hyundai Santa-Fe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 3.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Hyundai Santa-Fe?
Tyres, recorded in 3.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.4%).
Does the 2023 Santa-Fe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 1.3% in the 0-30k band to 6.2% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 704 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.