2015 Hyundai i20 — MOT failures & pass rate
73,247 MOT tests on the 2015 Hyundai i20 are in this dataset, and 87.2% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (17.6% fail rate), the 2015 i20 comes out 4.7pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.0%) and visibility (4.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, washers and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 2,322 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.9% versus 6.7%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.4pp more often than petrol ones (16.7% vs 12.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.0% | 3,624 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.9% | 3,561 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 3,479 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.7% | 3,451 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 939 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.1% | 786 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 2,322 |
| 2 | Washers | 1,927 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,811 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,581 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,283 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 1,172 |
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 | 24.3% | 17,833 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.6% | 14,337 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.4% | 5,445 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.0% | 2,935 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 2,661 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 2,036 |
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 | 12,207 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 34,978 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 19,577 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 5,157 | 19.3% |
| 120-150k | 995 | 22.2% |
| 150k+ | 329 | 24.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 65,624 | 12.4% |
| Diesel | 7,623 | 16.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,463 | 10.6% |
| 2022 | 14,562 | 11.5% |
| 2023 | 14,664 | 12.6% |
| 2024 | 14,790 | 14.2% |
| 2025 | 14,768 | 15.1% |
What to check before buying a 2015 i20
On a 2015 i20, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.0% 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.
- Visibility (4.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.8% 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 2015 Hyundai i20s pass their MOT?
87.2% of the 73,247 2015 Hyundai i20 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Hyundai i20?
Tyres, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by visibility (4.9%).
Does the 2015 i20 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 24.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 73,247 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.