Hyundai Santa Fe (2004)
2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
CarHunch analysed 4,175 real MOT records for the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe passes its MOT first time in only 73.3% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, and a concerning 34.6% have recorded dangerous defects at some point—a significant red flag for any buyer considering this model. Petrol variants are particularly weak at 72% pass rate versus diesel's 74%, suggesting fuel type choice matters here.
These Santa Fes are averaging around 87,000 miles at test, which is reasonable for their age, but they're averaging 4.58 failures per vehicle and a heavy 23.8 advisories each, indicating chronic wear across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. Before purchasing one, insist on a pre-buy inspection by a mechanic familiar with Hyundais and factor in above-average maintenance costs, especially around suspension and exhaust systems where the advisory numbers cluster.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 2 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 34.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Hyundai Santa Fe
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (64%) | 2,680 | 74% | 4.62 |
| Petrol (35%) | 1,472 | 72% | 4.53 |
| LPG (0%) | 15 | 78.4% | 3.47 |
| Other (0%) | 7 | 85.7% | 0.43 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 1 | 83.3% | 2 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles fall between 70,262 and 103,867 miles.
2004 Hyundai Santa Fe — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 368 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (10% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Found a specific Hyundai Santa Fe?
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