Hyundai i30: what fails at MOT
138,000 MOT tests on the Hyundai i30 in 2024, counted. 33.9% failed at the first attempt.
The short answer
33.9% of Hyundai i30 tests failed at the first attempt. Cars of the same ages averaged 27.5%, so the i30 does worse than most cars its age.
It fails most often on lights and electrics (10.8% of tests), brakes (9.1% of tests) and suspension (6.4% of tests). It fails on lights and electrics, brakes and steering 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 | 3,180 | 12.1% | 10.9% | 23,000 15,400 to 32,500 |
| 2020 | 2,984 | 12.6% | 11.5% | 29,000 21,400 to 39,800 |
| 2019 | 6,931 | 11.5% | 13.4% | 35,300 26,100 to 45,300 |
| 2018 | 10,609 | 14.0% | 15.6% | 45,700 34,300 to 58,700 |
| 2017 | 9,207 | 19.4% | 18.2% | 52,500 39,300 to 69,500 |
| 2016 | 12,123 | 28.7% | 21.3% | 62,100 46,700 to 81,000 |
| 2015 | 17,349 | 31.1% | 24.4% | 70,200 53,200 to 89,400 |
| 2014 | 12,741 | 37.4% | 27.7% | 77,700 58,800 to 99,700 |
| 2013 | 13,532 | 42.0% | 30.6% | 85,000 65,300 to 108,000 |
| 2012 | 11,105 | 42.8% | 33.4% | 91,600 70,800 to 115,600 |
| 2011 | 10,123 | 46.1% | 36.1% | 87,100 65,200 to 111,900 |
| 2010 | 12,777 | 47.1% | 38.6% | 93,500 69,300 to 117,100 |
| 2009 | 10,947 | 46.2% | 39.8% | 92,500 68,600 to 116,300 |
| 2008 | 3,148 | 50.5% | 41.5% | 108,200 84,000 to 135,000 |
| 2007 | 1,078 | 48.6% | 41.5% | 102,000 79,200 to 127,500 |
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 i30 tests with at least one failure in each part of the MOT, beside what cars of the same ages average.
| Part of the test | i30 | Cars its age |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics More than most | 10.8% | 7.5% |
| Brakes More than most | 9.1% | 4.4% |
| Suspension | 6.4% | 6.2% |
| Tyres | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Steering More than most | 4.2% | 1.4% |
| Wipers, washers and windscreen | 3.7% | 3.0% |
| Body and structure Less than most | 1.4% | 2.1% |
| Exhaust and emissions Less than most | 1.2% | 2.0% |
The parts that fail most
- Brake test4.5%
- Brake light3.7%
- Track rod end3.6%
- Tyre3.1%
- Headlamp2.9%
- Side light2.5%
- Tyre tread2.4%
- Footbrake2.2%
- Brake pads2.1%
- Handbrake2.0%
Share of tests with a failure on that part.
The most common failures
- Brake test: efficiency below requirements3.5%
- Brake light: not working3.5%
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.2%
- Side light: not working2.4%
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam2.4%
- Tyre tread: below requirements of 1.6mm2.3%
- Handbrake: inoperative on one side2.0%
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.9%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.7%
- Ball joint: excessively worn1.7%
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 edge15.0%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened8.5%
- Tyre: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing6.9%
- Brake pads: wearing thin6.7%
- Suspension pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement4.9%
- Footbrake: binding but not excessively3.3%
- Coil spring: corroded3.1%
- Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened2.6%
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
- “Do all the lights work, including the number plate lights and brake lights?”
- “When were the brake pads and discs last changed?”
- “Is there any play, knocking or stiffness in the steering?”
- “Have any suspension parts been replaced, such as springs, ball joints or bushes, and can I see the invoice?”
Check a Hyundai i30's own MOT record
Looking at a i30? Type its registration to 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.