2017 Hyundai Tucson — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Hyundai Tucson passed 88.0% of its 135,988 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (11.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (6.0%) and tyres (4.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, tread depth and wipers — brake pads alone was recorded 5,305 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.7% versus 6.5%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 11.9% of the time against 12.4% for petrol.
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 — 8.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 6.0% | 8,221 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.1% | 5,560 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.7% | 5,009 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 2,999 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 1,403 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.9% | 1,176 |
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 | 5,305 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 4,333 |
| 3 | Wipers | 4,178 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,019 |
| 5 | Washers | 1,667 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 1,646 |
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% | 34,630 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.9% | 27,002 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.1% | 12,398 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.5% | 4,698 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 4,135 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 1,321 |
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 | 24,888 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 71,692 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 31,972 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 6,185 | 19.6% |
| 120-150k | 978 | 20.4% |
| 150k+ | 271 | 20.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 94,139 | 11.9% |
| Petrol | 41,847 | 12.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 26,457 | 8.3% |
| 2022 | 26,974 | 10.3% |
| 2023 | 27,279 | 12.1% |
| 2024 | 27,551 | 14.1% |
| 2025 | 27,727 | 15.3% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Tucson
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 6.0% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (6.0% 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.
- Tyres (4.1% 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.
- Visibility (3.7% 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 2017 Hyundai Tucsons pass their MOT?
88.0% of the 135,988 2017 Hyundai Tucson MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Hyundai Tucson?
Brakes, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by tyres (4.1%).
Does the 2017 Tucson get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 20.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 135,988 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.