2012 Hyundai i10 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Hyundai i10 passed 79.2% of its 127,774 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail at 20.9%, so the 2012 i10 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.4% of all tests — 4.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rigid brake pipes and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 7,594 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.4% versus 13.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 26.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 15,846 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.3% | 10,649 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.6% | 8,475 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 7,423 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.7% | 7,244 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 2,670 |
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 | 7,594 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 6,240 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 5,689 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 5,316 |
| 5 | Wipers | 5,143 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 3,895 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 26.8% | 34,216 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.6% | 34,030 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.1% | 24,390 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 10,416 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.7% | 9,801 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 5,799 |
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 | 22,301 | 13.3% |
| 30-60k | 57,049 | 19.7% |
| 60-90k | 35,358 | 24.8% |
| 90-120k | 10,626 | 27.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,951 | 28.9% |
| 150k+ | 468 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 127,727 | 20.8% |
| Diesel | 47 | 23.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,651 | 18.5% |
| 2022 | 25,770 | 19.8% |
| 2023 | 25,828 | 21.0% |
| 2024 | 25,585 | 22.3% |
| 2025 | 24,940 | 22.5% |
What to check before buying a 2012 i10
On a 2012 i10, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.3% 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 (6.6% 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 2012 Hyundai i10s pass their MOT?
79.2% of the 127,774 2012 Hyundai i10 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Hyundai i10?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.4% of tests, followed by suspension (8.3%).
Does the 2012 i10 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 0-30k band to 31.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 127,774 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.