2009 Hyundai i20 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 61,969 MOT tests, the 2009 Hyundai i20 recorded a 76.5% pass rate. That is 2.6 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 26.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.3% of tests against 9.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and washers — position lamp alone was recorded 5,107 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.9% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 23.3% fail against 26.9% for diesel, a 3.6-point gap across 61,969 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 10,752 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.4% | 5,810 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.8% | 4,803 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.6% | 4,065 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.6% | 2,843 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.7% | 1,647 |
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 | 5,107 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 3,918 |
| 3 | Washers | 2,534 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,321 |
| 5 | Wipers | 2,279 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 2,213 |
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 | 35.0% | 21,674 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.4% | 16,948 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.4% | 15,710 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 10,617 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.6% | 7,802 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 4,113 |
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 | 3,236 | 13.1% |
| 30-60k | 14,571 | 18.7% |
| 60-90k | 22,040 | 23.7% |
| 90-120k | 15,232 | 27.5% |
| 120-150k | 5,312 | 28.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,563 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 57,385 | 23.3% |
| Diesel | 4,584 | 26.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,495 | 21.9% |
| 2022 | 13,225 | 22.9% |
| 2023 | 12,645 | 23.7% |
| 2024 | 11,861 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 10,743 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 i20
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.3% 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 (7.8% 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 i20s pass their MOT?
76.5% of the 61,969 2009 Hyundai i20 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Hyundai i20?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by brakes (9.4%).
Does the 2009 i20 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.1% in the 0-30k band to 30.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 61,969 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.