2005 Hyundai Santa-Fe — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,560 MOT tests analysed for the 2005 Hyundai Santa-Fe, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 70.2% was below the average for large SUVs of a similar age (75.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 34.0% in the 150k+ group versus 18.5% in the 30-60k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 1,067 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.8% | 968 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.3% | 807 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.0% | 724 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.8% | 378 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.7% | 310 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 582 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 476 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 412 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 363 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 354 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 312 |
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 | 40.8% | 2,675 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.7% | 2,276 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.1% | 1,715 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.8% | 1,627 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 21.1% | 1,383 |
| 6 | Other defects | 16.1% | 1,053 |
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 | 232 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 971 | 23.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,081 | 29.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,978 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,287 | 34.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,372 | 30.0% |
| Petrol | 1,188 | 28.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,981 | 28.6% |
| 2022 | 1,635 | 29.4% |
| 2023 | 1,311 | 31.4% |
| 2024 | 949 | 31.3% |
| 2025 | 684 | 29.1% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Santa-Fe
Before buying a 2005 Hyundai Santa-Fe, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 16.3% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (16.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.8% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.3% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2005 Hyundai Santa-Fes pass their MOT?
70.2% of the 6,560 2005 Hyundai Santa-Fe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Hyundai Santa-Fe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by suspension (14.8%).
Does the 2005 Santa-Fe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.5% in the 30-60k band to 34.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,560 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.