2009 Hyundai i10 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Hyundai i10 passed 76.5% of its 126,514 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail 25.8% of the time, so this is 2.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.4% of all tests — 6.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 8,086 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.1% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 19,537 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.4% | 11,904 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.9% | 10,016 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.0% | 7,595 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.9% | 7,417 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 2,307 |
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 | 8,086 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 7,062 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 5,971 |
| 4 | Wipers | 5,563 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 4,335 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,922 |
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 | 34.2% | 43,223 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.6% | 38,777 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.8% | 35,205 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 20,804 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.9% | 11,297 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 7,806 |
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 | 13,802 | 14.9% |
| 30-60k | 44,816 | 20.8% |
| 60-90k | 42,259 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 19,446 | 28.7% |
| 120-150k | 5,044 | 29.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,132 | 32.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 26,465 | 21.6% |
| 2022 | 26,076 | 22.6% |
| 2023 | 25,663 | 23.4% |
| 2024 | 24,861 | 24.8% |
| 2025 | 23,449 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 i10
On a 2009 i10, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.4% 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.
- Suspension (7.9% 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.
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 2009 Hyundai i10s pass their MOT?
76.5% of the 126,514 2009 Hyundai i10 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Hyundai i10?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by brakes (9.4%).
Does the 2009 i10 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.9% in the 0-30k band to 32.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 126,514 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.