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Hyundai: reliability & common problems

#6 of 24
Longevity rank#1 Tesla holds up to ~177k
~126k
Trouble-free mileageacross all body styles
200
Hyundais inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections
64/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/100



Based on 200 used Hyundais we inspected, they tend to be in slightly better shape than average — average condition 64/100 vs 61 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%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
38%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
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 8%
Hidden history

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

72%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 75%
5%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
22%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 23%

Compare with another brand:

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

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 ~126k miles. It ranks Hyundai #6 of 24 brands we have enough data to rate; the longest-lasting, Tesla, holds up to ~177k. 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 (12 cars) 20–40k mi: 97% in good shape (30 cars) 40–60k mi: 53% in good shape (30 cars) 60–80k mi: 83% in good shape (24 cars) 80–100k mi: 74% in good shape (31 cars) 100–120k mi: 69% in good shape (29 cars) 120–140k mi: 33% in good shape (18 cars) 140–160k mi: 43% in good shape (14 cars) 160–180k mi: 40% 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: 100% in good shape (9 cars) 2 years old: 93% in good shape (15 cars) 3 years old: 86% in good shape (14 cars) 4 years old: 89% in good shape (18 cars) 5 years old: 80% in good shape (15 cars) 6 years old: 68% in good shape (22 cars) 7 years old: 88% in good shape (17 cars) 8 years old: 52% in good shape (25 cars) 9 years old: 62% in good shape (21 cars) 10 years old: 55% in good shape (11 cars) 11 years old: 23% in good shape (13 cars) 12 years old: 33% 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+: 48% in good shape (age-adjusted; 29 cars, raw 55%) 48 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 36 cars · 72% good Sonata 43 cars · 53% good Santa Fe 24 cars · profile soon Genesis 22 cars · profile soon Tucson 22 cars · profile soon Accent 13 cars · profile soon Veloster 10 cars · profile soon

Recently inspected:

2009 Hyundai Santa Fe · 77k mi — flagged: exhaust system leaks, dirty or low engine oil, dirty or low transmission fluid. Inspected Jul 20.
2024 Hyundai Kona · 55k mi — flagged: oil leaks, fuel trim out of range, signs of recent repair. Inspected Jul 20.
The bottom line

Hyundai cars hold up longer than most yet lean hard on engine issues. Oil leaks hit nearly half, joined by fuel-trim and coolant faults, so start any inspection under the hood for those three before negotiating. Favor 2012-2017 examples; the 2018+ generation drops off in age-adjusted shape. Longevity holds to about 126,000 miles, making a clean higher-mile earlier car a solid play, but walk away from anything already leaking or throwing codes.

FAQ
?
Is Hyundai reliable?
63% of the 200 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%), fuel trim out of range (38%), tires condition & wear (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 200 inspections · updated Aug 1, 2026