Hyundai i20: what fails at MOT
162,000 MOT tests on the Hyundai i20 in 2024, counted. 27.1% failed at the first attempt.
The short answer
27.1% of Hyundai i20 tests failed at the first attempt. Cars of the same ages averaged 25.7%, so the i20 is about average for its age.
It fails most often on lights and electrics (8.4% of tests), brakes (5.8% of tests) and wipers, washers and windscreen (4.9% of tests). It fails on brakes and wipers, washers and windscreen more often than most cars its age.
By year of registration
Older cars fail more, whatever the model. So each year is shown beside the figure for all cars first used that year.
| First used | Tests | Failed first time | All cars that year | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,402 | 13.3% | 10.9% | 18,700 12,600 to 26,400 |
| 2020 | 5,839 | 10.0% | 11.5% | 23,600 15,900 to 33,400 |
| 2019 | 9,528 | 11.7% | 13.4% | 29,400 20,500 to 40,200 |
| 2018 | 10,752 | 14.0% | 15.6% | 36,400 25,100 to 49,300 |
| 2017 | 14,747 | 16.3% | 18.2% | 43,900 30,800 to 58,800 |
| 2016 | 17,150 | 18.7% | 21.3% | 49,900 35,700 to 66,000 |
| 2015 | 16,358 | 21.3% | 24.4% | 57,400 41,400 to 75,000 |
| 2014 | 16,277 | 30.9% | 27.7% | 58,400 42,100 to 76,700 |
| 2013 | 15,715 | 37.5% | 30.6% | 64,300 46,900 to 83,000 |
| 2012 | 11,959 | 41.1% | 33.4% | 69,400 50,900 to 89,300 |
| 2011 | 11,861 | 41.1% | 36.1% | 78,400 57,700 to 98,900 |
| 2010 | 12,121 | 41.1% | 38.6% | 79,800 59,700 to 101,000 |
| 2009 | 11,328 | 42.6% | 39.8% | 81,900 59,800 to 105,300 |
Green is at least three points better than other cars that year, red at least three points worse. Typical mileage is the middle reading at the test, with the range the middle half of cars fell in.
Where it fails
The share of Hyundai i20 tests with at least one failure in each part of the MOT, beside what cars of the same ages average.
| Part of the test | i20 | Cars its age | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 8.4% | 6.8% | |
| Brakes | 5.8% | 4.1% | More than most |
| Wipers, washers and windscreen | 4.9% | 2.8% | More than most |
| Suspension | 4.5% | 5.6% | |
| Tyres | 3.9% | 4.3% | |
| Exhaust and emissions | 1.5% | 1.8% | |
| Body and structure | 1.3% | 1.9% | |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.0% | 0.5% |
The parts that fail most
- Side light3.0%
- Washers2.7%
- Tyre2.4%
- Wipers2.3%
- Headlamp aim2.2%
- Brake light1.8%
- Ball joint dust cover1.8%
- Footbrake1.5%
- Brake pads1.5%
- Tyre tread1.4%
Share of tests with a failure on that part.
The most common failures
- Side light: not working3.0%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.3%
- Ball joint dust cover: no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.8%
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.7%
- Brake light: not working1.6%
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.4%
- Tyre tread: below requirements of 1.6mm1.3%
- Number plate light: inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps0.9%
- Brake pipes: excessively corroded0.9%
- Brake test: efficiency below requirements0.9%
What testers warn about
Advisories are things that passed this time but are wearing. They are the best guide to next year's bills.
- Tyre tread: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge10.8%
- Tyre: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing9.2%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened6.4%
- Brake pads: wearing thin6.0%
- Brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material5.4%
- Footbrake: binding but not excessively2.2%
- Suspension pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement2.1%
- Engine oil: leak, but not excessive1.7%
What these figures can't tell you
An MOT is a safety and emissions test. These figures show how often the model fails that test. They say nothing about engines, gearboxes or electronics that break between tests, and how a car has been looked after matters more than its badge. The car you are looking at has its own MOT record, and that is the one to read.
Ask before you travel
- “When were the brake pads and discs last changed?”
- “Do the wipers and washers work properly, and is the windscreen chipped or cracked?”
- “Do all the lights work, including the number plate lights and brake lights?”
- “Have any suspension parts been replaced, such as springs, ball joints or bushes, and can I see the invoice?”
Check a Hyundai i20's own MOT record
Type the registration from the advert. You'll see every test that car has had, what it failed on and what it was warned about, free.
Where this comes from
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The counting is Hindsight's own.
First-attempt MOT tests of cars first used 2004 to 2021. A test counts as failed if it failed or only passed after a repair during the test. Retests are left out. Built on 13 November 2026.