Used car guide

2012 Hyundai i10: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Hyundai i10s, from 19,772 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

19,772MOT tests in 2025
63%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
4,500typical miles a year
3.5×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Hyundai i10s than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Rigid brake pipes3.5× usual
    Hyundai i10
    19.5% All 2012 cars
    5.5%
    Rough price £100–£400

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.3× usual
    Hyundai i10
    6.7% All 2012 cars
    2.9%
    Rough price £80–£200

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Stop lamp2× usual
    Hyundai i10
    7.6% All 2012 cars
    3.8%
    Rough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Wipers1.9× usual
    Hyundai i10
    5.4% All 2012 cars
    2.9%
    Rough price £15–£60

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

  • Suspension arm1.7× usual
    Hyundai i10
    4.5% All 2012 cars
    2.6%
    Rough price £100–£300

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 1.4% here, against 10.1% of all 2012 cars. Exhaust system: 0.5% here, against 5.5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Hyundai i10 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    33% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    33% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    33% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    28% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    11% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    6% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
201918,165Tyres 26%
201821,205Tyres 29%
201723,740Tyres 30%
201622,082Tyres 29%
201522,197Tyres 30%
201422,848Brakes 30%
201320,246Suspension 33%
201116,578Brakes 36%
201018,042Brakes 40%
200918,114Suspension 47%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Hyundai i10s registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score