2003 · 21 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe MOT pass rate and common faults

331 MOT tests in 2024. 55.3% passed first time, compared with 57.3% for all cars the same age.

97Below average
Passed first time55.3%
Failed or needed repairs44.7%
Typical mileage at test113,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 331 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Stop lamp: not working8.8%
  2. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt6.3%
  3. Position lamp: not working5.1%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn5.1%
  5. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect4.8%
  6. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases3.9%
  7. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.6%
  8. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.6%
  9. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.0%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics36.0%
  2. Suspension23.0%
  3. Brakes20.8%
  4. Body & chassis16.6%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)10.3%
  6. Emissions & leaks7.6%
  7. Tyres6.9%
  8. Steering3.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine29.9%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded19.6%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm15.4%
  4. Registration plates: inscription illegible14.2%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened13.0%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: stop lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe?

In 2024, 55.3% of 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe cars passed their MOT first time, across 331 tests. The average for all 21-year-old cars was 57.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe?

The most common failure reasons were stop lamp: not working; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; position lamp: not working. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 97, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).