2005 Hyundai Tucson — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 9,112 MOT tests analysed for the 2005 Hyundai Tucson, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 69.2% was below the average for mid-size SUVs of a similar age (72.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 34.6% in the 150k+ group versus 17.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.7% | 1,793 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 1,497 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.4% | 1,037 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.6% | 513 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 490 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.2% | 474 |
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 | 744 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 637 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 571 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 558 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 496 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 419 |
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 | 41.4% | 3,771 |
| 2 | Brakes | 36.2% | 3,300 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.1% | 2,561 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 25.6% | 2,335 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 19.5% | 1,779 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.3% | 1,482 |
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 | 45 | 17.8% |
| 30-60k | 608 | 19.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,885 | 28.2% |
| 90-120k | 3,533 | 31.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,269 | 33.4% |
| 150k+ | 769 | 34.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,740 | 30.4% |
| Petrol | 2,366 | 31.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,789 | 31.5% |
| 2022 | 2,218 | 30.6% |
| 2023 | 1,755 | 30.3% |
| 2024 | 1,357 | 30.7% |
| 2025 | 993 | 30.2% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Tucson
Before buying a 2005 Hyundai Tucson, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 19.7% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (19.7% 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 (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.4% 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 2005 Hyundai Tucsons pass their MOT?
69.2% of the 9,112 2005 Hyundai Tucson MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Hyundai Tucson?
Suspension, recorded in 19.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.4%).
Does the 2005 Tucson get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.8% in the 0-30k band to 34.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,112 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.