2011 Hyundai i20 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Hyundai i20 passed 76.6% of its 63,074 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail at 23.9%, so the 2011 i20 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.3%) and brakes (11.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, service brake performance and rigid brake pipes — position lamp alone was recorded 4,823 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.2% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.9pp more often than petrol ones (27.0% vs 23.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 8,416 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.2% | 7,040 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.0% | 5,032 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.5% | 4,107 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.7% | 2,957 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 1,366 |
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 | 4,823 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 3,031 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,952 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 2,760 |
| 5 | Washers | 2,585 |
| 6 | Wipers | 2,158 |
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 | 36.7% | 23,141 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.8% | 16,886 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.0% | 15,162 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 8,097 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.7% | 6,733 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 3,318 |
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 | 3,239 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 17,235 | 19.0% |
| 60-90k | 24,188 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 13,042 | 27.9% |
| 120-150k | 4,066 | 29.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,291 | 30.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 57,876 | 23.1% |
| Diesel | 5,198 | 27.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,071 | 21.5% |
| 2022 | 13,027 | 22.2% |
| 2023 | 12,880 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 12,491 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 11,605 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 2011 i20
On a 2011 i20, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.2% 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 (8.0% 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.
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 2011 Hyundai i20s pass their MOT?
76.6% of the 63,074 2011 Hyundai i20 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Hyundai i20?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by brakes (11.2%).
Does the 2011 i20 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 63,074 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.