Diesel Hyundai Santa Fe: MOT pass rate

72.1% of diesel Hyundai Santa Fes pass the MOT first time, measured across 31,572 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 91,005.

Diesel against the other Hyundai Santa Fe versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Hyundai Santa Fe specifically, diesel is the strongest at 72.1%, and this diesel version sits 0.3 points above the 71.8% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Hyundai Santa Fe had covered 91,005 miles at test, against 102,292 for the petrol. That is above average, the point where suspension bushes, drop links and exhaust corrosion start showing up as advisories before they become failures.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Hyundai Santa Fe page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Hyundai Santa Fe

1. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2% of tests (3.11x the national rate for this defect)
2. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 4.1% of tests (2.66x the national rate for this defect)
3. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 3.3% of tests (2.5x the national rate for this defect)
4. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 4.6% of tests (2.05x the national rate for this defect)
5. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 9.6% of tests (1.91x the national rate for this defect)
6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 4% of tests (1.85x the national rate for this defect)
7. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.4% of tests (1.73x the national rate for this defect)
8. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2.1% of tests (1.62x the national rate for this defect)
9. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 1.7% of tests (1.62x the national rate for this defect)
10. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.4% of tests (1.44x the national rate for this defect)

From 31,741 DVSA-tracked diesel Hyundai Santa Fe tests, 2024, split out from the Hyundai Santa Fe's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 5.55% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Hyundai Santa Fe

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 3.2% of tests (2.37x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 11.6% of tests (2.24x the national rate for this defect)
3. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 9.1% of tests (1.92x the national rate for this defect)
4. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 2.3% of tests (1.79x the national rate for this defect)
5. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 11% of tests (1.77x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 14.4% of tests (1.54x the national rate for this defect), also fails
7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 3.9% of tests (1.46x the national rate for this defect)
8. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 1.9% of tests (1.41x the national rate for this defect)
9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 18.5% of tests (1.38x the national rate for this defect), also fails
10. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 35.5% of tests (1.33x the national rate for this defect)

From 31,741 DVSA-tracked diesel Hyundai Santa Fe tests, 2024.

Other Hyundai Santa Fe fuel types

• Petrol Hyundai Santa Fe - 62.7%

All Hyundai Santa Fe MOT data · Every model