Used car guide

2012 Hyundai i30: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Hyundai i30s, from 8,416 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

8,416MOT tests in 2025
55%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
7,500typical miles a year
3.4×the usual rate for track rod ends

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Hyundai i30s than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Track rod ends3.4× usual
    Hyundai i30
    16.8% All 2012 cars
    4.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.2%, against 2.4% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Suspension arm2.8× usual
    Hyundai i30
    7.2% All 2012 cars
    2.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

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

  • Individual direction indicators2.4× usual
    Hyundai i30
    7.2% All 2012 cars
    3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

  • Handbrake performance5.7× usual
    Hyundai i30
    4% All 2012 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 0.7% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull the handbrake on a slope. It should hold the car within a few clicks.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 0.4% here, against 5.5% of all 2012 cars. Shock absorbers: 2.2% here, against 6.5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Hyundai i30 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    49% 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.

  • Brakes
    37% 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.

  • Tyres
    34% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    30% 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.

Looking at a Hyundai i30?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20221,076Tyres 22%
20211,284Tyres 25%
20201,535Tyres 27%
20194,153Tyres 29%
20187,349Tyres 32%
20176,727Tyres 30%
20169,432Tyres 32%
201513,472Tyres 33%
20149,671Suspension 38%
201310,152Suspension 43%
20118,382Suspension 48%
20109,295Suspension 55%
20097,558Suspension 57%
20082,120Suspension 65%
2007729Suspension 64%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Hyundai i30s registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score