Used car guide

2010 Hyundai Tucson petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Hyundai Tucson first registered in 2010 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 156 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 156 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

156MOTs of 2010 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
54%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 60%)
7,000typical miles a year
2.7×the usual rate for exhaust system

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2010 Hyundai Tucson petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2010 Hyundai Tucson petrol than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Exhaust system2.7× usual
    Hyundai Tucson
    19.2% All 2010 cars
    7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 2% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

Common 2010 Hyundai Tucson petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2010 Hyundai Tucson petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    41% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    40% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    34% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    28% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    20% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

  • Steering
    15% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2010 Hyundai Tucson petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the 2010 Hyundai Tucson petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Hyundai Tucson?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Hyundai Tucson compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
20231,408Tyres 13%
202222,805Tyres 20%
202133,720Tyres 21%
202039,219Tyres 27%
201979,696Tyres 29%
201873,961Tyres 30%
201771,334Tyres 29%
201660,562Tyres 30%
201514,350Tyres 30%
20091,835Suspension 51%
20081,723Suspension 50%
20072,864Suspension 52%
20063,511Suspension 56%
20053,162Suspension 58%
2004785Suspension 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Hyundai Tucson cars first registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score