Hyundai Tucson MOT Failures
An analysis of 559,286 real DVSA MOT tests on the Hyundai Tucson — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: JM (2004–2010), TL (2010–2022).
Where the Hyundai Tucson fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Hyundai Tucson is power steering fault — this model is 68 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a major concern for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 559,286 MOT tests, 4.55% of all Hyundai Tucson tests recorded this as a failure.
Steering faults include worn track rod ends, power steering leaks, and rack wear. These are safety-critical — any play in the steering should be investigated immediately.
Other notable weak points include parking brake inefficient (87x the fleet average), seat mounting fault (30x the fleet average), transmission shaft flexible coupling deteriorated (19x the fleet average), and subframe bushes or mounts worn (276x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Hyundai Tucson's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 6 categories: Steering, Brakes, Seatbelts & Airbags, Bodywork, Suspension and others. If you're inspecting a Hyundai Tucson before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Hyundai Tucson's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Hyundai Tucson specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the r... (97x the average) and power steering fault (56x). electrical wiring fault (19x) and subframe bushes or mounts worn (18x) also appear frequently.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Hyundai Tucson specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are subframe bushes or mounts worn (276x the average) and parking brake inefficient (87x). power steering fault (68x) and parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the r... (58x) also appear frequently.
Over 100,000 miles
High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.
For the Hyundai Tucson specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are subframe bushes or mounts worn (73x the average) and suspension component missing, (46x). emissions failure (40x) and fuel pipe or hose damaged (22x) also appear frequently.
The shift from parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the r... at lower mileages to subframe bushes or mounts worn at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.
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Known issues beyond the MOT
An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Hyundai Tucson specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Parking brake failure (TL) Dangerous
The electronic parking brake system on TL-generation Tucsons suffers from widespread failures across multiple components including the actuator motor, control module, and cable mechanism. Affects TL; typical independent garage repair cost is £400–£1,000.
Turbo failure (JM) Dangerous
The D4EA 2.0 CRDi engine in JM-generation Tucsons experiences turbocharger failure, typically manifesting as bearing wear, actuator malfunction, or compressor wheel damage. Affects JM; typical independent garage repair cost is £600–£1,200.
DCT clutch issues (TL) Major
The dual-clutch transmission (DCT) fitted to 1.6 T-GDi models suffers from premature clutch wear and juddering, particularly affecting urban driving conditions. Affects TL; typical independent garage repair cost is £1,000–£2,000.
DCT issues (TL) Major
The dual-clutch transmission system experiences control module failures, software glitches, and hydraulic system problems beyond the physical clutch wear issues. Affects TL; typical independent garage repair cost is £800–£2,500.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Hyundai Tucson common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Hyundai Tucson
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Hyundai Tucson:
Steering — check for power steering fault. Brakes — check for parking brake inefficient, parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the r.... Seatbelts & Airbags — check for seat mounting fault. Bodywork — check for transmission shaft flexible coupling deteriorated.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about parking brake failure and turbo failure. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £400. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
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Hyundai Tucson MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Hyundai Tucson?
Based on 559,286 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is power steering fault — at 68x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include parking brake inefficient and seat mounting fault.
Is the Hyundai Tucson reliable based on MOT data?
The Hyundai Tucson has 17 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag parking brake failure as a concern. A pre-purchase inspection and service history check are recommended.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Hyundai Tucson most commonly fails on subframe bushes or mounts worn and suspension component missing,. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the r... and power steering fault.
How do I check a Hyundai Tucson's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.