2004 Hyundai Tucson — MOT failures & pass rate
2,422 MOT tests on the 2004 Hyundai Tucson are in this dataset, and 68.3% of them passed. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 28.1% of the time, so this is 3.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 18.9% of tests against 15.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, ball joint and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 210 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 32.1% versus 24.3%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 31.2% of the time against 32.0% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.0% in 2021 to 30.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.9% | 459 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 383 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.9% | 265 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 169 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.8% | 140 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 133 |
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 | 210 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 180 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 180 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 152 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 142 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 140 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 40.2% | 973 |
| 2 | Brakes | 36.4% | 882 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.7% | 696 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 26.2% | 634 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.2% | 464 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 18.9% | 458 |
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 | 115 | 24.3% |
| 60-90k | 501 | 28.7% |
| 90-120k | 933 | 32.6% |
| 120-150k | 656 | 34.0% |
| 150k+ | 212 | 32.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,630 | 32.0% |
| Petrol | 792 | 31.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 785 | 32.0% |
| 2022 | 619 | 31.7% |
| 2023 | 457 | 30.6% |
| 2024 | 333 | 33.6% |
| 2025 | 228 | 30.3% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Tucson
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 18.9% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (18.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.9% 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 2004 Hyundai Tucsons pass their MOT?
68.3% of the 2,422 2004 Hyundai Tucson MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Hyundai Tucson?
Suspension, recorded in 18.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.8%).
Does the 2004 Tucson get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.3% in the 30-60k band to 32.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,422 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.