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Hyundai: reliability & common problems

#3 of 24
Longevity rank#1 Tesla holds up to ~197k
~142k
Trouble-free mileageacross all body styles
221
Hyundais inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections
67/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/100



Based on 221 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
49%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
39%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
37%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
19%
Low coolant / cooling system issues · Engine
18%

Share of inspected Hyundais where each item was flagged.

How they score

Excellent 30% Good 38% Mediocre 22% 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: 24%

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 ~142k miles. It ranks Hyundai #3 of 24 brands we have enough data to rate; the longest-lasting, Tesla, holds up to ~197k. 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: 93% in good shape (14 cars) 20–40k mi: 94% in good shape (33 cars) 40–60k mi: 55% in good shape (31 cars) 60–80k mi: 85% in good shape (26 cars) 80–100k mi: 73% in good shape (33 cars) 100–120k mi: 69% in good shape (35 cars) 120–140k mi: 40% in good shape (20 cars) 140–160k mi: 44% in good shape (16 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 (10 cars) 2 years old: 88% in good shape (17 cars) 3 years old: 87% in good shape (15 cars) 4 years old: 89% in good shape (19 cars) 5 years old: 78% in good shape (18 cars) 6 years old: 71% in good shape (24 cars) 7 years old: 89% in good shape (18 cars) 8 years old: 52% in good shape (25 cars) 9 years old: 67% in good shape (24 cars) 10 years old: 55% in good shape (11 cars) 11 years old: 29% in good shape (14 cars) 12 years old: 33% in good shape (6 cars) 13 years old: 0% 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: 78% in good shape (age-adjusted; 43 cars, raw 77%) 78 2018–20: 66% in good shape (age-adjusted; 29 cars, raw 72%) 66 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018–20 2021+

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
Tucson 26 cars · 89% good Sonata 45 cars · 73% good Elantra 40 cars · 68% good Santa Fe 27 cars · 63% good Genesis 23 cars · profile soon Accent 15 cars · profile soon Veloster 11 cars · profile soon

Recently inspected:

2010 Hyundai Sonata · 120k mi — flagged: smoothness, crankcase gas pressure, oil leaks. Inspected Sep 26.
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe · 103k mi — flagged: oil leaks, fuel trim out of range, excessive pads wear. Inspected Sep 24.
The bottom line

On a Hyundai, start under the hood. Oil leaks, fuel-trim issues, and cooling problems are the pattern, so get a scan and a look at the engine bay and underneath before you talk price. Worn tires show up often too—use them to negotiate, not as a reason to walk. Hunt a 2015–17; that generation holds up best, while 2012–14 is the one to skip and 2018–20 already looks softer at the same age. They typically stay decent until about 142,000 miles, so high miles on a dry 2015–17 is not automatic poison. Walk when oil, coolant, and live codes all show up together.

FAQ
?
Is Hyundai reliable?
68% of the 221 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 (49%), fuel trim out of range (39%), tires condition & wear (37%).
?
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 221 inspections · updated Oct 1, 2026