2004 · 20 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2004 Hyundai Santa Fe MOT pass rate and common faults

520 MOT tests in 2024. 53.3% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

94Below average
Passed first time53.3%
Failed or needed repairs46.7%
Typical mileage at test115,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 520 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt7.1%
  2. Stop lamp: not working5.4%
  3. Position lamp: not working4.6%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm4.4%
    36 marked dangerous
  5. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases4.2%
  6. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect4.2%
  7. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.0%
  8. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.7%
  9. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.7%
  10. Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.7%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics33.7%
  2. Suspension21.0%
  3. Brakes19.2%
  4. Body & chassis17.1%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)8.7%
  6. Tyres7.1%
  7. Steering5.8%
  8. Emissions & leaks5.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine21.0%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.8%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded15.8%
  4. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases12.7%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened12.5%

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: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2003 Santa FeAll Santa Fe years2005 Santa Fe →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe?

In 2024, 53.3% of 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe cars passed their MOT first time, across 520 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe?

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

Is the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 94, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).