Hyundai Terracan MOT pass rate & common failures
10,351 MOT tests on the Hyundai Terracan (2002–2019) give it a 71.1% pass rate. That is 4.3 percentage points worse than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 24.6%. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (16.0%) and lighting & signalling (15.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, track rod end and rigid brake pipes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 729 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.9% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Terracan model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 847 | 71.1% | 28.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 2,361 | 70.2% | 29.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 2,999 | 71.9% | 28.1% | Brakes |
| 2006 | 2,283 | 70.3% | 29.6% | Brakes |
| 2007 | 1,831 | 71.8% | 28.2% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 16.0% | 1,657 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 1,594 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.2% | 1,361 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.3% | 754 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 713 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.3% | 544 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 299 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.8% | 289 |
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 | 729 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 716 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 696 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 530 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 507 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 458 |
| 7 | Stop lamp | 435 |
| 8 | Pins and bushes | 419 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 40.0% | 4,139 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.4% | 3,662 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.9% | 1,953 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.8% | 1,948 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.1% | 1,671 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 1,635 |
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 | 45 | 17.8% |
| 30-60k | 471 | 17.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,907 | 24.5% |
| 90-120k | 3,667 | 29.1% |
| 120-150k | 2,935 | 31.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,325 | 33.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,052 | 29.4% |
| 2022 | 2,557 | 28.8% |
| 2023 | 1,973 | 29.4% |
| 2024 | 1,558 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 1,211 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a Hyundai Terracan
- Brakes (16.0% 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 (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Hyundai Terracan?
71.1% of the 10,351 Hyundai Terracan MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 28.9% fail rate, across model years 2002–2019.
What does the Hyundai Terracan most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 16.0% of tests, then lighting & signalling (15.4%).
How much does mileage affect Terracan MOT results?
Fail rates run at 17.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 33.9% for 150k+, a 16.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,351 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.