Hyundai Tucson, Buying guide, MOT record, UK numbers and recalls
268,244 Hyundai Tucsons are licensed in the UK, the 29th most common model on the road. In 2025 they passed 83.1% of initial MOT tests, 10.8 points above the 72.3% UK average.
Looking at a specific Tucson? Check its finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history. £15, no account needed.
Hyundai Tucson at the MOT
83.1% of 168,801 initial tests passed in 2025, ranking the Tucson 157th of 575 models. Hyundai Tucsons aged 3 to 5 years passed 87% of MOT tests in 2025; for examples aged 11 years and over that fell to 54.3%.
First-time pass rate, 2025
Share of initial tests passed, retests excluded.
Pass rate by age at test
Hyundai Tucson tests in 2025.
Where Tucsons fail
Share of all failure items recorded on Hyundai Tucson tests in 2025.
The items testers recorded most often were brake pads less than 1.5 mm thick (10.5%), tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (9.1%) and wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.5%).
The MOT page lists every common Tucson MOT failure. For one car's own results and advisories, run a free MOT history check.
What to look at on a viewing
The Tucson's most common failure areas, and what a tester checks in each.
-
Brakes
Make sure the pedal feels firm, the car stops in a straight line, the handbrake holds on a slope and no brake warning light is showing.29.9% of Tucson failure items
-
Tyres
Check tread depth across the full width of every tyre (the legal minimum is 1.6mm), and look for cuts, bulges and uneven wear.20% of Tucson failure items
-
Visibility
Check the windscreen for chips or cracks in the driver's view, and that the wipers and washers clear it properly.13.9% of Tucson failure items
Hyundai Tucsons in the UK
268,244 were licensed at the end of June 2026, the 2nd most of any Hyundai. The number licensed has grown 277% since the end of 2017.
- Change since 2017
- +277%from 71,227 licensed
- Typical year of first use
- 2021half of those licensed at the end of 2025 were first used in 2021 or earlier
- First registered in 2025
- 26,929against 34,472 in 2023
- Declared off the road
- 3,9891.5% of those registered, under SORN
Licensed Hyundai Tucsons since 2014
Licensed at each year end and in the latest quarter.
Show the figures
| Date | Licensed |
|---|---|
| End of 2014 | 15,365 |
| End of 2015 | 20,695 |
| End of 2016 | 44,245 |
| End of 2017 | 71,227 |
| End of 2018 | 94,979 |
| End of 2019 | 116,965 |
| End of 2020 | 125,614 |
| End of 2021 | 148,025 |
| End of 2022 | 174,471 |
| End of 2023 | 204,848 |
| End of 2024 | 230,834 |
| End of 2025 | 256,430 |
| End of June 2026 | 268,244 |
How old they are
Licensed Hyundai Tucsons by year of first use.
- Licensed at the end of 2025
- First registered that year
A further 2,410 were first used before 2009.
Show the figures
| First used | Licensed, end 2025 | First registered that year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21,806 | 26,929 |
| 2024 | 29,487 | 31,115 |
| 2023 | 33,625 | 34,472 |
| 2022 | 26,220 | 27,839 |
| 2021 | 21,121 | 22,492 |
| 2020 | 13,477 | 14,428 |
| 2019 | 26,736 | 28,443 |
| 2018 | 25,242 | 27,643 |
| 2017 | 24,616 | 29,470 |
| 2016 | 20,864 | 25,238 |
| 2015 | 4,902 | 5,876 |
| 2014 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 199 | |
| 2009 | 401 |
4,902 Tucsons first used in 2015 were still licensed at the end of 2025, roughly 83% of the 5,876 first registered that year.
Tucson engines and fuel
1.6 litre engines made up 72% of Hyundai Tucson MOT tests in 2025, followed by 1.7 litre at 19%. Petrol accounts for 40% of licensed Tucsons and hybrid electric for 32%.
Engine size at MOT, 2025
Share of 168,795 initial MOT tests in 2025.
Fuel type, licensed Tucsons
DfT licensing statistics, June 2026.
| Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 106,948 | 40% |
| Diesel | 50,326 | 19% |
| Plug-in hybrid | 24,220 | 9% |
| Hybrid electric | 86,745 | 32% |
| Gas | 5 | <0.1% |
Hyundai Tucson recalls
13 DVSA safety recalls launched from 2010 to July 2026 name the Hyundai Tucson. The 8 most recent are below. Each covers vehicles built in a set period, so a recall does not mean every Tucson is affected.
-
Apr 2026 R/2026/147
Some vehicles may have an instrument cluster operational concern whilst driving the vehicle
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- 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.
- Remedy
- To correct this an 'Over the Air ' software update to the vehicles will be deployed remotely.
-
Jan 2025 R/2024/489
The subject vehicles may experience a loss of brake assistance and brake performance may e reduced. The foot brake will still operate but in a manner of a vehicle without a functioning brake booster (less assistance)
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- The subject vehicles may experience a loss of brake assistance and brake performance may be reduced. The foot brake will still operate but in a manner of a vehicle without a functioning brake booster (less assistance).
- Remedy
- Engine control unit software update
-
Mar 2024 R/2024/036
The side curtain airbag could potentially be assembled in a twisted condition
Defect and remedy
- Remedy
- Check the installation of the side curtain airbag installation and rectify or replace the curtain airbag as required.
-
Aug 2023 R/2023/184
Certain Tucson vehicles equipped with rear door power windows may experience a malfunction of the anti-pinch function during its operation
Defect and remedy
- Remedy
- Both left-hand and right-hand rear door power window regulator motors will be replaced.
-
Jul 2023 R/2023/157
Subject vehicles may experience a loss of brake assistance and brake performance may be reduced
Defect and remedy
- Remedy
- Inspect and remove the vacuum pump oil passage mesh if installed.
-
Mar 2023 R/2023/039
The vehicle immobiliser may not function correctly due to incorrect vehicle software
Defect and remedy
- Remedy
- Apply a software update to the Hybrid Control Unit to correct the immobiliser operation.
-
Dec 2021 R/2021/414
Potential manufacturing defect within the component of the right hand rear caliper
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- A manufacturing defect may be present within the right-hand rear brake calliper which may result in impaired brake performance.
- Remedy
- Visually inspect and if the right-hand rear brake calliper is confirmed to be fitted with the affected batch code (1J24) it will be replaced.
-
Sep 2021 R/2021/295
Vehicles equipped with smart key system may have an immobiliser malfunction
Defect and remedy
- Remedy
- Apply update to the hybrid control unit to correct the immobiliser operation.
Tucson vs similar cars
Head-to-head comparisons on the same 2025 DVSA data.
Other Hyundai models
The most-tested Hyundai models in 2025, against the Tucson's 83.1% MOT pass rate.
Hyundai Tucson FAQs
How many Hyundai Tucsons are there in the UK?
268,244 Hyundai Tucsons were licensed in the UK at the end of June 2026, with a further 3,989 declared off the road (SORN), according to DfT vehicle licensing statistics.
Is the Hyundai Tucson reliable?
MOT data does not measure reliability. It records whether a car met the roadworthiness standard on the day of its test. What it does show is an 83.1% first-time pass rate for the Hyundai Tucson across 168,801 tests in 2025, above the 72.3% average for all cars.
Has the Hyundai Tucson had any recalls?
13 DVSA safety recalls launched from 2010 to July 2026 name the Hyundai Tucson. The most recent was published in April 2026. A recall applies to vehicles built in a set period, so check a specific car on the GOV.UK vehicle recall checker.
What should I check before buying a used Hyundai Tucson?
On the car itself, start with the areas it most often fails on: brakes, tyres and visibility. Then check the individual car's own records. Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and police stolen markers are not part of the MOT record, so they take a history check.
How do I check a Hyundai Tucson's history?
Enter the registration of the specific car. A Carpeep car history check reports outstanding finance, write-off category, stolen markers, mileage history, previous keepers, MOT and tax status, import and export markers and scrapped status in one £15 report.
Already found a Tucson?
Check its finance, write-off, theft, mileage and keeper history with a £15 vehicle history report.
Across the 1,389 vehicles of every make Carpeep has checked since November 2025, 19% had outstanding finance recorded and 13% an insurance write-off. More on the Hyundai history check. To confirm a car's identity, see the Hyundai VIN check.
- Outstanding finance
- Write-off records
- Stolen markers
- Mileage history
- Previous keepers
MOT figures are aggregated from the DVSA MOT Anonymised data set for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, retests excluded), which also gives the engine sizes. Licensed, SORN, fuel and registration figures are from the Department for Transport vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0120, VEH0124, VEH0160). Recalls are from the DVSA vehicle recalls data, with recalls launched up to July 2026. Government data is used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. MOT results describe roadworthiness at test, not mechanical reliability. History-check findings are anonymous counts from reports bought on Carpeep, each vehicle counted once, and are published only where at least 100 vehicles returned an answer.