Hyundai

Hyundai Tucson (2018)

25,660 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.6% first-time pass rate

2018 Hyundai Tucson

CarHunch analysed 25,660 real MOT records for the 2018 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 Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2018 Hyundai Tucson passes its MOT at 86.4%, which is a solid 6.4 percentage points above the UK average—though one concern is that nearly a quarter of this cohort (23.4%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is notably high. Petrol versions are significantly more reliable than diesels, posting an 87.9% pass rate compared to 82.2% for the diesel.

At 35,235 miles median, these Tucsons are running lower than expected for their age, suggesting generally conservative ownership. The average vehicle sees 0.75 failures and 5.9 advisories per test, indicating that while most pass without major issues, minor wear items and maintenance lapses are common—so before buying, prioritise a pre-purchase inspection focused on brake components and suspension, given the advisory frequency.

The 2018 Hyundai Tucson passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (88.6%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ 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
88.6%
UK average ~80%
Better than average
Dangerous (ever)
23.4%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
0.75
Over 5.7 tests on record
Moderate
Typical mileage
35k
Middle half: 27k–45k
For context
Good baseline reliability. A 88.6% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 5.9 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 25,660 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 25,660 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 42.8%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Brake wear 33.3%
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 20.5%
Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 25,660 Hyundai Tucson cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2018 Hyundai Tucson

Based on MOT data from 25,660 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 23.4% 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 ClickMechanic
  • 📄 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 carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (74%) 18,878 88.6% 0.77
Diesel (26%) 6,777 88.7% 0.7

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%
19
Maroon 0%
12

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 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.

35,235
typical
27,376
low mileage
44,526
high mileage

Half of all 2018 Hyundai Tucson vehicles fall between 27,376 and 44,526 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 27,376 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.
27,376–44,526 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Hyundai Tucsons sit.
Over 60,110 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Hyundai Tucson — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Hyundai Tucsons are still on the road.

Strong survival — 24,039 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

24,167 24,039 2021 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.75
Avg failures per vehicle
5.9
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Hyundai Tucson: All Tucson years → Which year to buy? →
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2015 2016 2017 2019 2020 2021 2022

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Average reliability — agree?