2008 Hyundai i10 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 32,749 MOT tests, the 2008 Hyundai i10 recorded a 73.2% pass rate. That is effectively the same as city cars of a similar age (27.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.8%) and suspension (12.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, ball joint dust cover and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 2,078 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 33.6% versus 15.8%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 4,863 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.0% | 3,946 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.5% | 3,425 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.5% | 2,140 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.3% | 2,074 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 1,013 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 2,078 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 1,846 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 1,752 |
| 4 | Wipers | 1,564 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,331 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 1,188 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 38.9% | 12,754 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.3% | 10,239 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.3% | 9,277 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 5,573 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.5% | 4,737 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.4% | 4,403 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 2,280 | 15.8% |
| 30-60k | 10,230 | 23.7% |
| 60-90k | 12,454 | 28.6% |
| 90-120k | 5,928 | 30.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,535 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 310 | 33.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,115 | 25.7% |
| 2022 | 6,895 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 6,652 | 26.7% |
| 2024 | 6,308 | 28.1% |
| 2025 | 5,779 | 27.7% |
What to check before buying a 2008 i10
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (10.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2008 Hyundai i10s pass their MOT?
73.2% of the 32,749 2008 Hyundai i10 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Hyundai i10?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by suspension (12.0%).
Does the 2008 i10 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.8% in the 0-30k band to 33.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 32,749 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.