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Hyundai: reliability & common problems

#4 of 24
Longevity rank#1 Tesla holds up to ~189k
~135k
Trouble-free mileageacross all body styles
203
Hyundais inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections
67/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/100



Based on 203 used Hyundais we inspected, they tend to be in noticeably better shape than the typical used car we inspect — average condition 67/100 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
39%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
38%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
20%
Low coolant / cooling system issues · Engine
18%

Share of inspected Hyundais where each item was flagged.

How they score

Excellent 30% Good 39% Mediocre 21% Poor 10%
Hidden history

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

71%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 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 ~135k miles. It ranks Hyundai #4 of 24 brands we have enough data to rate; the longest-lasting, Tesla, holds up to ~189k. 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 (31 cars) 40–60k mi: 53% in good shape (30 cars) 60–80k mi: 84% in good shape (25 cars) 80–100k mi: 74% in good shape (31 cars) 100–120k mi: 70% in good shape (30 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: 87% in good shape (15 cars) 4 years old: 89% in good shape (18 cars) 5 years old: 80% in good shape (15 cars) 6 years old: 70% in good shape (23 cars) 7 years old: 88% in good shape (17 cars) 8 years old: 52% in good shape (25 cars) 9 years old: 64% in good shape (22 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 are holding up better 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 56% in good shape (age-adjusted; 33 cars, raw 55%) 56 2015–17: 77% in good shape (age-adjusted; 41 cars, raw 76%) 77 2018+: 66% in good shape (age-adjusted; 30 cars, raw 73%) 66 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
Sonata 43 cars · 72% good Elantra 36 cars · 72% good Santa 25 cars · 64% good Tucson 23 cars · profile soon Genesis 22 cars · profile soon Accent 13 cars · profile soon Veloster 10 cars · profile soon

Recently inspected:

2020 Hyundai Palisade · 63k mi — flagged: fault codes recently cleared, fuel trim out of range, tires condition & wear. Inspected Aug 20.
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe · 114k mi — flagged: oil leaks, fuel trim out of range, dashboard. Inspected Aug 4.
The bottom line

Hyundai buyers should treat the engine as the first checkpoint: oil leaks and out-of-range fuel trim are the usual suspects, so look for seepage, get a scan, and confirm the cooling system isn't low. Tires often need attention too. These cars typically stay decent until 135,000 miles, which means a higher-mileage example can still be worth it if the powertrain is clean. The 2015–17 generation holds up best at equivalent age, so prioritize those over the earlier or later ones. If you find active leaks or error codes, negotiate hard or walk—those issues compound quickly.

FAQ
?
Is Hyundai reliable?
69% of the 203 Hyundais we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, averaging 67/100 — they tend to be in noticeably better shape than the typical used car we inspect.
?
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 (39%), tires condition & wear (38%).
?
Are newer Hyundais more reliable than older ones?
Yes — comparing generations at the same age (5–10 years old), newer Hyundais hold up clearly better than the early-2010s ones.
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Based on 203 inspections · updated Aug 22, 2026