2012 Hyundai i20 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 62,502 MOT tests, the 2012 Hyundai i20 recorded a 77.0% pass rate. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (22.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests against 10.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, position lamp and headlamp aim — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 4,520 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.4% versus 12.2%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.9% fail against 25.8% for diesel, a 2.9-point gap across 62,502 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 8,692 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.2% | 6,385 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 5,387 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.7% | 3,574 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.4% | 2,754 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 1,672 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 4,520 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 4,448 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 3,202 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,331 |
| 5 | Washers | 2,265 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 1,989 |
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 | 30.5% | 19,039 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.6% | 16,635 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.5% | 13,419 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 5,946 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.8% | 5,510 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 3,212 |
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 | 4,641 | 12.2% |
| 30-60k | 21,991 | 19.6% |
| 60-90k | 23,526 | 25.6% |
| 90-120k | 9,594 | 27.7% |
| 120-150k | 2,208 | 29.3% |
| 150k+ | 537 | 29.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 60,448 | 22.9% |
| Diesel | 2,054 | 25.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,647 | 20.5% |
| 2022 | 12,770 | 22.1% |
| 2023 | 12,640 | 23.1% |
| 2024 | 12,477 | 24.5% |
| 2025 | 11,968 | 24.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 i20
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.2% 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 (8.6% 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 i20s pass their MOT?
77.0% of the 62,502 2012 Hyundai i20 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Hyundai i20?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by suspension (10.2%).
Does the 2012 i20 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.2% in the 0-30k band to 29.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 62,502 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.