Family SUV · 2002–2019 cars
Hyundai Terracan reliability
The Hyundai Terracan fails 41.9% of first MOT tests, 6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 5,436 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Hyundai Terracan before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 41.9%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 6% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 5,436
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Hyundai Terracan ages
Each point is the share of Hyundai Terracans of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Hyundai Terracan | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 45.4% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 43% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 41.9% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 39.5% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 43.3% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 37.3% | 42.8% |
By year
The best and worst Hyundai Terracan years
2005 cars come out best and 2004 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 937 | 42.2% | 4% fewer fails | 110,186 |
| 2006 Terracan | 1,216 | 43.4% | 2% fewer fails | 109,641 |
| 2005 Terracan | 1,620 | 38.6% | 13% fewer fails | 115,836 |
| 2004 Terracan | 1,183 | 45.5% | 1% more fails | 113,238 |
| 2003 | 456 | 40.4% | 10% fewer fails | 114,999 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Hyundai Terracan
Its weak spot is steering: 126% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics19.7%11% below avg
- Brakes19.4%43% above avg
- Suspension15.9%11% below avg
- Steering9.4%126% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure8.5%6% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors6.9%7% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks3.9%47% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags3.5%21% above avg
- Tyres3.1%58% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Track rod end ball joint excessively worn 5.83% of tests
Worn steering ball joints can affect steering control and safety, so repair is needed before the car is driven.
- 2
Position lamp not working 4.56% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 4.16% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 4
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 4.01% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
- 5
Stop lamp not working 3.84% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 6
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 3.77% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 7
ABS warning lamp shows a fault 3.22% of tests
A lit ABS warning means the anti-lock system may not work, so wheels could lock during emergency braking.
- 8
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.59% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Hyundai Terracan's MOT certificate most often.
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy21.3%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit10.72%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive9.95%
- Wheel bearing slight play9.31%
- Brake pads wearing thin7.67%
- Brake disc pitted or scored6.55%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Hyundai Terracan
- 1
Track rod end ball joint excessively worn
Worn steering ball joints can affect steering control and safety, so repair is needed before the car is driven.
- 2
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Parking brake efficiency below minimum
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 4
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Diesel99.7%
- Petrol0.3%
Most common colours
Black, Silver, Blue, Green, Grey
Average engine size: 2.9 litres.
Compare
How the Hyundai Terracan compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| MG HS Exclusive | 8.3% | 29% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mercedes-Benz GLB | 9.7% | 24% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Hyundai Terracan | 41.9% | 6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Citroën C-Crosser | 43.6% | about average for its age |
| Mazda CX-7 | 41.1% | 3% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Peugeot 4007 | 45.1% | 6% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin | 45.7% | 13% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every family suv ranked in the family suv reliability index, or all Hyundai models.
Questions
Hyundai Terracan questions, answered
Is the Hyundai Terracan reliable?
On MOT results, the Hyundai Terracan is about average: it fails 41.9% of first MOT tests, 6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 35 of 59 family suv models in our index.
What fails most on a Hyundai Terracan MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Hyundai Terracan are track rod end ball joint excessively worn (5.83% of tests), position lamp not working (4.56% of tests), parking brake efficiency below minimum (4.16% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 19.7% of its tests.
Which Hyundai Terracan year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2005 cars do best (13% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2004 cars do worst (about average for its age).
How do I check a Hyundai Terracan before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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