2010 Hyundai Santa-Fe — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 22,189 MOT tests analysed for the 2010 Hyundai Santa-Fe, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 71.3% was below the average for large SUVs of a similar age (79.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.2% in the 150k+ group versus 14.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 3,819 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.8% | 3,281 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.5% | 2,338 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 1,787 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.2% | 1,154 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 944 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 2,010 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 1,794 |
| 3 | Joints | 1,774 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 884 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 868 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 856 |
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 | 38.8% | 8,613 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.5% | 7,437 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.0% | 5,988 |
| 4 | Other defects | 13.5% | 2,987 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 2,707 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.3% | 2,065 |
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 | 78 | 14.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,158 | 21.3% |
| 60-90k | 4,581 | 25.7% |
| 90-120k | 7,941 | 28.8% |
| 120-150k | 5,557 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 2,874 | 32.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 22,094 | 28.7% |
| Petrol | 95 | 28.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,875 | 27.7% |
| 2022 | 4,718 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 4,549 | 29.0% |
| 2024 | 4,205 | 29.2% |
| 2025 | 3,842 | 29.9% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Santa-Fe
Before buying a 2010 Hyundai Santa-Fe, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 17.2% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (17.2% 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.
- Brakes (10.5% 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.
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 2010 Hyundai Santa-Fes pass their MOT?
71.3% of the 22,189 2010 Hyundai Santa-Fe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Hyundai Santa-Fe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by suspension (14.8%).
Does the 2010 Santa-Fe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.1% in the 0-30k band to 32.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,189 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.