2015 Hyundai Tucson — MOT failures & pass rate
28,780 MOT tests on the 2015 Hyundai Tucson are in this dataset, and 83.8% of them passed. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (15.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 9.5% of tests against 4.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, rbt (sp) and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 1,098 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.3% once past 150k — 3.6× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 14.8% of the time against 16.2% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 9.5% | 2,731 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.2% | 1,215 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 869 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 774 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.0% | 585 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.3% | 385 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 1,098 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 1,016 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 904 |
| 4 | Parking brake performance | 650 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 504 |
| 6 | Wipers | 492 |
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 | 25.5% | 7,331 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.4% | 6,162 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.8% | 2,539 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.3% | 2,109 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 909 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 638 |
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 | 1,259 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 11,323 | 13.4% |
| 60-90k | 11,545 | 17.8% |
| 90-120k | 3,821 | 21.0% |
| 120-150k | 659 | 23.5% |
| 150k+ | 173 | 24.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 27,135 | 16.2% |
| Petrol | 1,645 | 14.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,687 | 13.2% |
| 2022 | 5,769 | 14.6% |
| 2023 | 5,794 | 16.2% |
| 2024 | 5,772 | 17.8% |
| 2025 | 5,758 | 19.0% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Tucson
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 9.5% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (9.5% 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.
- Tyres (4.2% 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 (3.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2015 Hyundai Tucsons pass their MOT?
83.8% of the 28,780 2015 Hyundai Tucson MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Hyundai Tucson?
Brakes, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by tyres (4.2%).
Does the 2015 Tucson get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 0-30k band to 24.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,780 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.