2004 Hyundai Terracan — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,361 MOT tests, the 2004 Hyundai Terracan recorded a 70.2% pass rate. That is 4.5 percentage points worse than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 25.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.7%) and brakes (16.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 215 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.0% in the 30-60k band and 31.1% in the 150k+ band, a 17.2-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.2% in 2021 to 28.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 395 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.1% | 381 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.7% | 323 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 188 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.5% | 153 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.2% | 123 |
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 | 215 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 192 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 156 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 151 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 126 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 125 |
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 | 38.3% | 904 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.6% | 889 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.3% | 527 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.7% | 441 |
| 5 | Tyres | 17.8% | 421 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 395 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 93 | 14.0% |
| 60-90k | 394 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 891 | 31.1% |
| 120-150k | 669 | 32.3% |
| 150k+ | 305 | 31.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 761 | 30.2% |
| 2022 | 585 | 29.1% |
| 2023 | 437 | 30.4% |
| 2024 | 343 | 30.3% |
| 2025 | 235 | 28.1% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Terracan
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.1% 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.
- Suspension (13.7% 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
How many 2004 Hyundai Terracans pass their MOT?
70.2% of the 2,361 2004 Hyundai Terracan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Hyundai Terracan?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.7% of tests, followed by brakes (16.1%).
Does the 2004 Terracan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.0% in the 30-60k band to 31.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,361 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.