Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2006 Hyundai Tucson?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2006 Hyundai Tucson?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2006 Hyundai Tucson?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2006 Hyundai Tucson vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

44% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2006 Hyundai Tucson reliable?

Based on MOT data from 4,513 vehicles, the 2006 Hyundai Tucson has a first-time MOT pass rate of 74.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2006 Hyundai Tucson?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2006 Hyundai Tucson are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (71.1% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (63.8% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (57.8% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2006 Hyundai Tucson?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Hyundai Tucson (2006)

4,513 real MOT outcomes analysed • 74.7% first-time pass rate

2006 Hyundai Tucson

CarHunch analysed 4,513 real MOT records for the 2006 Hyundai Tucson. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2006 Hyundai Tucson falls short of the UK average pass rate at 74.7%, which is a concern—but the real red flag is that 44% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above the threshold you'd want to see. Petrol and diesel variants perform similarly poorly (73.6% and 75.2% respectively), so fuel type won't be your deciding factor here.

These Tucsons are averaging around 75,800 miles at test, which is reasonable for their age, yet they're still racking up 4.38 failures per vehicle on average—nearly double what you'd expect from a reliable model. Before buying one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focusing on structural and brake integrity, as the high dangerous defect rate suggests these cars need close mechanical scrutiny.

The 2006 Hyundai Tucson has a below-average first-time pass rate (74.7% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

74.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

44.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.38

Over 16.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

76k

Middle half: 61k–91k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 25 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 4,513 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 4,513 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 71.1%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 53.8%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 45.7%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Suspension & steering 28.9%

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2006.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 4,513 Hyundai Tucson cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.6 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

73.6%

Petrol

1,365 vehicles

75.2%

Diesel

3,145 vehicles

Before you buy a 2006 Hyundai Tucson

Based on MOT data from 4,513 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 44.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (70%)	3,145	75.2%	4.23
Petrol (30%)	1,365	73.6%	4.73

Colour Breakdown

Based on 130,344 Hyundai Tucson vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Grey 22.8%

29,729

Black 20.8%

27,119

Blue 18.1%

23,614

White 16.5%

21,444

Silver 10.5%

13,676

Red 5.9%

7,671

Beige 4.5%

5,862

Bronze 0.5%

613

Green 0.2%

300

Gold 0.2%

285

Brown 0%

Maroon 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2006 Hyundai Tucson vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

75,717

typical

60,866

low mileage

91,232

high mileage

Half of all 2006 Hyundai Tucson vehicles fall between 60,866 and 91,232 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 60,866 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 60,866–91,232 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2006 Hyundai Tucsons sit.

⚠ Over 123,163 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2006 Hyundai Tucson — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 20% of 2006 Hyundai Tucsons are still active.

Numbers are declining — 799 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (20% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

16.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.38

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Hyundai Tucson: All Tucson years → Which year to buy? →

2004 2005 2007 2008 2009 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or browse all models: Hyundai →

Compare with another model

See how the 2006 Hyundai Tucson stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on