Used car guide · 2008–2026

Hyundai i20 common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Hyundai i20, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 375,641 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

375,641MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
164,201on the UK register
4known faults across all years
2015best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008

What usually goes wrong with a Hyundai i20?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Fast clutch wear

    Cars registered 2009–2014 · Manual gearbox

    Clutches wear remarkably quickly on many cars.

    At the viewing: Check the clutch bites cleanly, every gear selects easily and it doesn't slip under hard acceleration.

    Source: What Car?: used Hyundai i20 (2009-2015) review

  • Blocked particulate filter (diesel)

    Cars registered 2009–2014 · Diesel

    Diesels used mainly for short trips can clog their particulate filter, which can be costly to replace.

    At the viewing: Ask what journeys it does, and watch for a DPF warning.

    Source: What Car?: used Hyundai i20 (2009-2015) review

  • Rust from poor repairs and fragile keys

    Cars registered 2009–2014 · All engines

    Badly repaired accident damage can rust in odd places, and the folding key can fall apart and is expensive to replace.

    At the viewing: Look for rust or mismatched paint, and check the key.

    Source: What Car?: used Hyundai i20 (2009-2015) review

  • eCall recall

    Cars registered 2015–2020 · Some cars

    About 1,900 cars were recalled because the VIN might not be stored correctly in the eCall emergency-call unit. Otherwise What Car? and Auto Express report little trouble.

    At the viewing: Ask a Hyundai dealer whether the recall was done.

    Source: What Car?: used Hyundai i20 (2015-2020) reliability

Common Hyundai i20 MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 6.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

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

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 3.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    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.

  • Braking performance

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2021.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Sidelights

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

    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.

  • Front strut mounts and bushes

    up to 8.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £120–£400 our estimate

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

  • Wipers

    up to 2.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2021 and 2022.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

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

Diesel

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 5.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    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 cover

    up to 6.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

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

  • Sidelights

    up to 3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

    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.

  • Braking performance

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010, 2011, 2015 and 2016.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Diesel smoke emissions

    up to 8.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010 and 2012.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Steering rack inner joints

    up to 5.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010, 2015 and 2016.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

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

Hybrid

  • Wipers

    up to 3.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2021 and 2022.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

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

Hyundai i20 MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2015 Hyundai i20 did best (79% passed first time, 5 points above all 2015 cars) and the 2013 did worst (62%, 5 points below all 2013 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202392%92% +0203 (small sample)
202286%89% -34,593
202187%87% +07,566
202090%87% +312,036
201988%85% +321,932
201886%83% +325,722
201783%80% +334,821
201681%77% +441,071
201579%74% +538,149
201469%70% -138,819
201362%67% -537,204
201260%64% -428,676
201160%62% -228,625
201060%60% +028,485
200958%59% -127,469
200862%57% +5270 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Hyundai i20

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Has the clutch been replaced?
  2. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 6.1× as often on the Hyundai i20 as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 3.8× as often on the Hyundai i20 as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the Hyundai i20 as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Hyundai i20?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score