2021 Hyundai i10 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Hyundai i10 passed 89.5% of its 18,157 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail 6.6% of the time, so this is 3.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (5.6%) and tyres (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and daytime running lamps — wipers alone was recorded 1,160 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.5% once past 60-90k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.2% of tests failed in 2023 against 10.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 5.6% | 1,011 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.4% | 609 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 518 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.8% | 514 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.2% | 225 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.7% | 128 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,160 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 271 |
| 3 | Daytime running lamps | 218 |
| 4 | Washers | 196 |
| 5 | Steering rack | 161 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 95 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 18.9% | 3,423 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.7% | 1,037 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.0% | 736 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 573 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 175 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 127 |
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 | 15,042 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 2,958 | 14.1% |
| 60-90k | 130 | 18.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 274 | 6.2% |
| 2024 | 8,973 | 11.1% |
| 2025 | 8,902 | 10.1% |
What to check before buying a 2021 i10
On a 2021 i10, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (5.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (3.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (2.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2021 Hyundai i10s pass their MOT?
89.5% of the 18,157 2021 Hyundai i10 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Hyundai i10?
Visibility, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by tyres (3.4%).
Does the 2021 i10 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 18.5% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,157 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.