Hyundai I20
From 174,648 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer I20s fare better: 2021 models pass at 87% vs 67.1% for 2009.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning and windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen. The top issue, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, caused 4,749 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 4,749 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 3,739 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 3,212 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 3,139 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 3,103 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 3,029 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 2,865 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 2,635 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 2,455 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 2,290 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 37.6% of failures are serious: 37.6% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 0% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £80.
The warranty question
A new I20 passes its MOT 91% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 83.5%, a 7.5 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. At 10 years it's down to 70.5%.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 77% while Diesel versions pass at 71.1%, a 6 percentage point gap.
Hyundai I20 on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 7,646 newly registered in the past year with 3,473 leaving, a net gain of 4,173. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 148,366 | 2,727 | +1,801 | -1,478 | +323 |
| 2025 Q2 | 148,145 | 2,625 | +2,073 | -637 | +1,436 |
| 2025 Q1 | 146,789 | 2,545 | +2,536 | -757 | +1,779 |
| 2024 Q4 | 145,187 | 2,368 | +1,236 | -601 | +635 |
| 2024 Q3 | 144,753 | 2,167 | +1,968 | -1,028 | +940 |
| 2024 Q2 | 143,924 | 2,056 | +2,575 | -735 | +1,840 |
| 2024 Q1 | 142,123 | 2,017 | +2,956 | -786 | +2,170 |
| 2023 Q4 | 140,091 | 1,879 | +1,501 | -337 | +1,164 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| I20 Se Mpi | Petrol | 22,603 | 20% |
| I20 Active | Petrol | 19,736 | 17% |
| I20 Classic | Petrol | 15,102 | 13% |
| I20 Comfort | Petrol | 11,912 | 10% |
| I20 Se Connect Mhev T-Gdi | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 5,181 | 5% |
| I20 Advance T-Gdi | Petrol | 4,125 | 4% |
| I20 Premium T-Gdi | Petrol | 3,271 | 3% |
| I20 Premium Mhev T-Gdi | Petrol | 3,196 | 3% |
| I20 Play Mpi | Petrol | 3,135 | 3% |
| I20 N T-Gdi | Petrol | 2,991 | 3% |
| I20 Style | Petrol | 2,991 | 3% |
| I20 Comfort Auto | Petrol | 2,736 | 2% |
| I20 Se Mpi Auto | Petrol | 2,478 | 2% |
| I20 Premium T-Gdi Auto | Petrol | 2,433 | 2% |
| I20 Premium Nav Mpi | Petrol | 2,114 | 2% |
| I20 Se Connect Mhev T-Gdi Auto | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 2,089 | 2% |
| I20 Active Auto | Petrol | 2,002 | 2% |
| I20 Premium Mhev T-Gdi Auto | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 1,927 | 2% |
| I20 Advance T-Gdi Auto | Petrol | 1,882 | 2% |
| I20 S Air Mpi | Petrol | 1,859 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 87% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2020 | 91% | a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2019 | 89.1% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2018 | 87.1% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
10 earlier years
| 2017 | 85.4% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2016 | 83.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2015 | 81.8% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2014 | 74.4% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2013 | 70.5% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2012 | 68.3% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2011 | 68.4% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2010 | 68.2% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2009 | 67.1% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2008 | 65.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged |
Typical mileage
Half of all I20s tested had between 33,913 and 72,354 miles on the clock.
At 55,055 median miles, the I20 has 0.042 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Hyundai models
| Hyundai I10 | 77.5% |
| Hyundai I30 | 72.6% |
| Hyundai Tucson | 84.5% |
| Hyundai Ix35 | 73.4% |
| Hyundai Ioniq | 88.1% |
Common questions
What is the Hyundai I20 MOT pass rate?
The Hyundai I20 has a 76.7% MOT pass rate based on 174,648 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Hyundai I20?
The most common MOT failure on the Hyundai I20 is a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, which caused 4,749 failures. Other common issues include a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning.
How many Hyundai I20s are on UK roads?
There are 148,366 Hyundai I20s currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,727 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Hyundai I20 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Hyundai I20 is 55,055 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 33,913 and 72,354 miles.
Buying a used I20?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 76.7% pass rate and an average repair bill of £80 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.