Used buying checklist

Hyundai Tucson reliability, common problems and used buying checks

A used Hyundai Tucson looks better than average for reliability in UK MOT data: 12.4% of 130,510 tests failed, compared with 18.7% across all indexed models. A good example should have a clean MOT history for windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, corrosion and structure, and suspension and steering.

Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). MOT data does not capture every reliability issue, especially intermittent engine, gearbox or infotainment faults that do not appear during the test.

• 12.4% MOT failure rate
• Median tested mileage 41,727 miles
• 16,209 failed MOT tests analysed

Most useful finding

Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is the clearest area to check

Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is the clearest named problem area in this model's MOT history (6.9 MOT notes per 100 tests). Example MOT phrases from this area include items removed from drivers view prior to test, damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, and does not clear the windscreen effectively.

Example MOT phrases to search in the car's history:

• Items removed from drivers view prior to test
• damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view
• does not clear the windscreen effectively
• provides insufficient washer liquid
• excessively corroded
• ferrule excessively corroded
• is deformed and structural rigidity is significantly reduced
• corroded and seriously weakened
• across an axle
• Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Before you view one

Focus on windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, corrosion and structure, and suspension and steering

The model's recorded failure rate is 12.4%, -6.3 percentage points compared with the average across all models. Use the seller questions below to check whether repeat MOT notes have actually been repaired.

• MOT tests analysed130,510 tests
• Median tested mileage41,727 miles
• Failed MOT tests16,209

Used buyer verdict

Should you buy a used Hyundai Tucson?

87.6% of the MOT tests we analysed for this model passed. The model's recorded failure rate is 12.4%, -6.3 percentage points compared with the average across all models. This is a buying brief for the exact car in front of you: clean repeat history matters more than badge reputation.

Better than average in our MOT data

Green light if The car has a tidy MOT pattern, recent repairs for windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, corrosion and structure, and suspension and steering, matching tyres, and paperwork for service or recall work.

Renegotiate if The latest MOT mentions windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, corrosion and structure, and suspension and steering, consumables are due together, or the seller cannot show what was fixed after advisories.

Walk away if Dangerous defects, corrosion near structural areas, warning lights, or the same component family keep returning without clear repair evidence.

• Repeat unresolved MOT notes for windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, corrosion and structure, and suspension and steering
• windscreen, wipers, and mirrors appearing across more than one MOT
• Any dangerous MOT failure on the exact car, especially if the same area appears again later
• No paperwork showing applicable recall work has been completed
• A seller who cannot explain MOT wording such as "Items removed from drivers view prior to test"

What should I check first?

Start with windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical. The checklist on this page explains why each area is being recommended, what to inspect, and what to ask the seller. Each item shows whether it comes from MOT results, recall notices, or a standard used-car check.

• Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors Seen in MOT results

  Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (6.9 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check windscreen damage, wiper operation, washers, mirrors, and demisting.

  • Ask the seller: Have windscreen, wiper, washer, mirror, or demisting faults appeared in recent MOT history?
  • Example MOT wording: Items removed from drivers view prior to test; damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view; does not clear the windscreen effectively
  • Where it shows up: most visible around 0-50k and 50-100k miles
• Corrosion and structure Seen in MOT results

  Corrosion and structure is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (5.2 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Inspect sills, subframes, mounting points, arches, and underside corrosion advisories.

  • Ask the seller: Has any sill, subframe, mounting-point, chassis, or structural corrosion advisory been repaired properly?
  • Example MOT wording: excessively corroded; ferrule excessively corroded; is deformed and structural rigidity is significantly reduced
  • Where it shows up: most visible around 50-100k, 100-150k, 150-200k, and 200k+ miles
• Suspension and steering Seen in MOT results

  Suspension and steering is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (4.4 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Listen for knocks, check uneven tyre wear, and inspect steering play.

  • Ask the seller: Has any suspension, steering, ball-joint, spring, or wheel-bearing advisory been repaired?
  • Example MOT wording: across an axle; Play in steering rack inner joint(s); ball joint excessively worn
  • Where it shows up: seen across most mileage ranges
• Lights and electrical Seen in MOT results

  Lights and electrical is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (3.8 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check every lamp, warning light, horn, battery condition, and dashboard messages.

  • Ask the seller: Have any lighting, warning-light, horn, battery, or electrical MOT notes come back more than once?
  • Example MOT wording: has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced; inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources; warning lamp indicates a fault
  • Where it shows up: seen across most mileage ranges
• Tyres and wheels Seen in MOT results

  Tyres and wheels is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (2.6 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check tyre age, tread depth, sidewall damage, wheel condition, and alignment wear.

  • Ask the seller: Have uneven tyre wear, damaged tyres, wheel damage, or alignment issues been corrected?
  • Example MOT wording: Wheel/tyre protruding beyond wheel arch; Nail in tyre; on a single line braking system has inadequate effort at a wheel
  • Where it shows up: most visible around 0-50k miles
• Emissions, engine, and exhaust Seen in MOT results

  Emissions, engine, and exhaust is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (2.5 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check warning lights, smoke, exhaust leaks, recent emissions failures, and service history.

  • Ask the seller: Has the car had repeat emissions, smoke, exhaust, lambda, or engine-warning MOT failures?
  • Example MOT wording: leaking excessively from engine; emissions test not completed because smoke levels are significantly in excess of the specified limit values; Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits
  • Where it shows up: most visible around 100-150k, 150-200k, and 200k+ miles

What changes with mileage?

Past 100k miles on the Hyundai Tucson, MOT records most often point to corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical.

Common MOT problem areas

130,510 MOT tests analysed for this model

110,950 Distinct vehicles represented

12.4% Recorded MOT test failure rate — -6.3 percentage points vs all models

Common faults: what usually fails on this model?

Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is the clearest named problem area in the MOT history (6.9 MOT notes per 100 tests). These counts are issue notes, not failure rates, because a single MOT can list several faults.

Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors

• Items removed from drivers view prior to test
• damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

6.9 MOT notes per 100 tests

Corrosion and structure

• excessively corroded
• ferrule excessively corroded

5.2 MOT notes per 100 tests

Suspension and steering

• across an axle
• Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

4.4 MOT notes per 100 tests

Lights and electrical

• has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced
• inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources

3.8 MOT notes per 100 tests

Tyres and wheels

• Wheel/tyre protruding beyond wheel arch
• Nail in tyre

2.6 MOT notes per 100 tests

Emissions, engine, and exhaust

• leaking excessively from engine
• emissions test not completed because smoke levels are significantly in excess of the specified limit values

2.5 MOT notes per 100 tests

Brakes

• defective but brake still operating
• pivot worn to the extent that the brake may inadvertently release

0.0 MOT notes per 100 tests

Recall-related areas to verify

Official recall areas

Manufacturer recall notices for the Hyundai Tucson mainly involve 4 areas: mixed recall notices, brakes, lights and electrical, and seatbelts and safety systems. Treat each as something to verify on the specific car you are viewing; the recall table below shows the official notice text.

Mixed recall notices

• Some vehicles may have an instrument cluster operational concern whilst driving the vehicle
• The abs/esc control unit may short circuit

4 recalls · 122,544 vehicles

Brakes

• Brake lights may malfunction
• Parking brake may not engage

2 recalls · 88,945 vehicles

Lights and electrical

• Secondary bonnet catch may not function correctly

1 recall · 14,775 vehicles

Seatbelts and safety systems

• The side curtain airbag could potentially be assembled in a twisted condition

1 recall · 46 vehicles

Mileage and age checks

Mileage changes: what starts showing up after high mileage?

Past 100k miles on the Hyundai Tucson, MOT records most often point to corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical. On lower-mileage cars, the most common named areas are windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, tyres and wheels, and lights and electrical.

Mileage range	Tests	Vehicles	Failure rate (vs all models)	Median mileage
0-50k	82,356	72,482	9.6%-1.3 percentage points vs all models	32,053 miles
50-100k	40,926	33,341	15.8%-5.0 percentage points vs all models	63,553 miles
100-150k	5,979	4,390	27.4%+1.2 percentage points vs all models	116,147 miles
150-200k	733	521	30.8%+3.6 percentage points vs all models	162,252 miles
200k+	61	44	29.5%+2.9 percentage points vs all models	212,233 miles

Problem areas by mileage

Past 100k miles on the Hyundai Tucson, MOT records most often point to corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical.

Mileage range	Car areas most often recorded	Specific MOT defect examples
0-50k	Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors (7.1 MOT notes per 100 tests) Tyres and wheels (2.6 MOT notes per 100 tests) Lights and electrical (1.4 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.
50-100k	Corrosion and structure (6.4 MOT notes per 100 tests) Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors (6.3 MOT notes per 100 tests) Suspension and steering (6.0 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.
100-150k	Corrosion and structure (54.4 MOT notes per 100 tests) Suspension and steering (31.7 MOT notes per 100 tests) Lights and electrical (27.8 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.
150-200k	Corrosion and structure (75.4 MOT notes per 100 tests) Suspension and steering (41.6 MOT notes per 100 tests) Lights and electrical (39.0 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.
200k+	Corrosion and structure (44.3 MOT notes per 100 tests) Suspension and steering (32.8 MOT notes per 100 tests) Emissions, engine, and exhaust (31.1 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.

Fair comparisons: is this problem normal for its age?

The MOT failure rate rises from 9.1% at 0-3 years to 29.8% at 15+ years. Compare the car with the nearest age range before treating a fault as normal wear or a warning sign. The average MOT failure rate across all models in the same dataset is 18.7%. The highest failure rate by age is 29.8% for 15+ years cars, based on 6,370 tests.

Age range	Tests	Vehicles	Failure rate (vs all models)	Median age
0-3 years 2023–2026 reg.	7,122	6,477	9.1%+0.7 percentage points vs all models	3.0 years
3-6 years 2020–2023 reg.	75,093	65,541	10.4%-0.2 percentage points vs all models	4.9 years
6-10 years 2016–2020 reg.	40,184	33,757	13.6%-3.1 percentage points vs all models	7.0 years
10-15 years 2011–2016 reg.	1,741	1,312	25.3%+1.8 percentage points vs all models	14.0 years
15+ years pre-2011 reg.	6,370	4,558	29.8%+3.9 percentage points vs all models	17.0 years

Recall records and data freshness

Recall context: are there safety notices to know about?

6 relevant recall notices appear for this model. Treat them as safety checks to verify for the exact car, not as normal MOT wear.

2026-04-02	Some vehicles may have an instrument cluster operational concern whilst driving the vehicle Some vehicles may face a concern where the instrument cluster panel may reboot during vehicle operation potentially resulting in a blank instrument cluster display screen. To correct this an ‘Over the Air ‘ software update to the vehicles will be deployed remotely.
2021-07-12	THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG COULD POTENTIALLY BE ASSEMBLED IN A TWISTED CONDITION The side curtain airbag could potentially be assembled in a twisted condition. Affected vehicles will be inspected to ascertain if the airbag is correctly installed. If the airbag is twisted it will be removed and reinstalled correctly.
2021-03-08	THE ABS/ESC CONTROL UNIT MAY SHORT CIRCUIT The ABS/ESC control unit may short circuit. ABS/ESC control unit wiring to be reworked together with amended amp fuses. Depending on specification the control unit software may also be updated.
2021-02-22	IN THE EVENT OF eCALL TRIGGER THE VIN NUMBER INFORMATION MAY NOT BE SENT The vehicle VIN information may not be registered correctly within the eCall unit. Register the VIN information within the vehicle by resetting the E-call unit and updating.
2016-07-25	SECONDARY BONNET CATCH MAY NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY If the bonnet is not shut correctly on the main bonnet catch and the bonnet then opens to the secondary catch the secondary bonnet catch is not strong enough to hold the bonnet in a closed position. At high motorway speeds the bonnet can then fly open and block the driver�s view. There is also a warning light to inform the driver that the bonnet is not closed correctly which is not functioning as intended. Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the secondary bonnet catch for a new stronger item. A new program will be downloaded into the cluster to make the bonnet open warning light work correctly.
2013-06-05	BRAKE LIGHTS MAY MALFUNCTION The vehicles brake lights may intermittently malfunction due to carbonisation of the contacts within the brake light switch. This can also affect other systems on the vehicle including: ESC cruise control gear selection (autoboxes) engine check lamp. Recall the vehicle that are likely to be affected to replace the brake light switch.

Related searches

Common ways people look up the Hyundai Tucson. Each link runs the search and lands on the relevant section of this report.

• Hyundai Tucson common problems
• Hyundai Tucson reliability
• Hyundai Tucson after 100k miles
• Hyundai Tucson after 200k miles
• Hyundai Tucson high mileage common problems
• Hyundai Tucson age related problems
• Hyundai Tucson MOT failures
• Hyundai Tucson recalls

Related reliability guides

Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). These are patterns from many MOT tests and recall notices. They help you decide what to inspect and what to ask; they do not certify the condition of one specific car.