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Hyundai: reliability & common problems

#5 of 24
Longevity rank#1 Tesla holds up to ~176k
~127k
Trouble-free mileageacross all body styles
195
Hyundais inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections
64/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 60/100



Based on 195 used Hyundais we inspected, they tend to be in slightly better shape than average — average condition 64/100 vs 60 for all cars we check. Every number on this page comes from real pre-purchase inspections — cars people were about to buy and paid an independent inspector to go through point by point, engine to underbody, paint depth to error codes. Not owner surveys, not warranty statistics, not forum lore: what we actually found.

What we found

Most common faults

Oil leaks · Engine
48%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
38%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
38%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
21%
Low coolant / cooling system issues · Engine
19%

Share of inspected Hyundais where each item was flagged.

How they score

Excellent 18% Good 45% Mediocre 30% Poor 7%
Hidden history

What the seller might not mention — how often we find it on Hyundais.

72%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 76%
5%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
23%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 23%

Compare with another brand:

Cross-shopping? Hyundai vs Toyota · Hyundai vs Honda · Hyundai vs Ford

How long does a Hyundai last?

Across every Hyundai body style we've inspected — sedans, SUVs and anything else pooled together — the average one's condition dips below decent (a 55/100 score) around ~127k miles. It ranks Hyundai #5 of 24 brands we have enough data to rate; the longest-lasting, Tesla, holds up to ~176k. Shopping a Hyundai near that mileage? Expect more wear ahead — see which makes give the best odds at your budget.



Good cars by mileage
0 25 50 75 100 0–20k mi: 100% in good shape (11 cars) 20–40k mi: 90% in good shape (29 cars) 40–60k mi: 66% in good shape (29 cars) 60–80k mi: 83% in good shape (23 cars) 80–100k mi: 61% in good shape (31 cars) 100–120k mi: 48% in good shape (29 cars) 120–140k mi: 18% in good shape (17 cars) 140–160k mi: 57% in good shape (14 cars) 160–180k mi: 20% in good shape (5 cars) 40k 80k 120k 160k 200k mileage when we inspected it
Good cars by age
0 25 50 75 100 1 years old: 89% in good shape (9 cars) 2 years old: 100% in good shape (13 cars) 3 years old: 93% in good shape (14 cars) 4 years old: 94% in good shape (18 cars) 5 years old: 80% in good shape (15 cars) 6 years old: 57% in good shape (21 cars) 7 years old: 65% in good shape (17 cars) 8 years old: 56% in good shape (25 cars) 9 years old: 43% in good shape (21 cars) 10 years old: 36% in good shape (11 cars) 11 years old: 15% in good shape (13 cars) 12 years old: 17% in good shape (6 cars) 2y 4y 6y 8y 10y 12y 14y 16y vehicle age when we inspected it

Share of Hyundais in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). The dashed grey curve is all cars we check.

Is Hyundai getting better?
▼ Newer Hyundais aren't holding up as well 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 59% in good shape (age-adjusted; 33 cars, raw 58%) 59 2015–17: 59% in good shape (age-adjusted; 40 cars, raw 58%) 59 2018+: 47% in good shape (age-adjusted; 28 cars, raw 54%) 47 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018+

Share of Hyundais in good shape (60+/100) when inspected at the same age — 5–10 years old, age-adjusted — by model-year generation; the dashed line is the all-brand average. Compare every brand's trajectory →



Hyundai models we've inspected
Elantra 35 cars · 72% good Sonata 43 cars · 53% good Santa Fe 23 cars · profile soon Tucson 22 cars · profile soon Genesis 21 cars · profile soon Accent 13 cars · profile soon Veloster 10 cars · profile soon

Recently inspected:

2019 Hyundai Kona · 123k mi — flagged: signs of recent repair, gear selector, boots. Inspected Jul 6.
2020 Hyundai Elantra · 83k mi — flagged: low coolant / cooling system issues, oil sludge, battery condition. Inspected Jul 6.
The bottom line

Engine problems lead the way on Hyundais, so treat oil leaks, out-of-range fuel trim and cooling system health as non-negotiable checks before anything else—oil leaks alone affect nearly half. The 2012–2017 generations hold up better age-adjusted than 2018-and-newer cars, making those earlier windows the smarter hunt. Longevity is a bright spot with condition holding until around 127,000 miles, so higher-mile examples can work if the engine is clean; negotiate hard on tires or codes and walk from structural repairs or multiple engine faults.

FAQ
?
Is Hyundai reliable?
63% of the 195 Hyundais we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, averaging 64/100 — they tend to be in slightly better shape than average.
?
What are the most common problems with a used Hyundai?
Across the Hyundais we inspected, the items we flag most often are oil leaks (48%), tires condition & wear (38%), fuel trim out of range (38%).
?
Are newer Hyundais more reliable than older ones?
No — comparing generations at the same age (5–10 years old), newer Hyundais actually score lower than the early-2010s ones.
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Based on 195 inspections · updated Jul 12, 2026