2017 Hyundai i20 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 64,654 MOT tests, the 2017 Hyundai i20 recorded a 90.1% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (13.4% fail rate), the 2017 i20 comes out 3.4pp better. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (4.6%) and tyres (4.3%) 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 washers — wipers alone was recorded 2,160 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.2% in the 0-30k band and 18.7% in the 150k+ band, a 12.5-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.8pp more often than petrol ones (13.7% vs 9.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.6% | 2,972 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.3% | 2,802 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 2,479 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.5% | 1,625 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 622 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 304 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 2,160 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,461 |
| 3 | Washers | 1,324 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,276 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,154 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 694 |
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 | 23.7% | 15,333 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.9% | 8,962 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.5% | 4,212 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 2,263 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.4% | 1,558 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 1,276 |
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 | 22,925 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 30,814 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 8,987 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,520 | 16.3% |
| 120-150k | 262 | 20.2% |
| 150k+ | 139 | 18.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 63,851 | 9.9% |
| Diesel | 803 | 13.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,630 | 7.1% |
| 2022 | 12,825 | 8.6% |
| 2023 | 12,939 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 13,022 | 11.1% |
| 2025 | 13,238 | 12.8% |
What to check before buying a 2017 i20
On a 2017 i20, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (4.6% 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 (4.3% 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 (3.8% 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 2017 Hyundai i20s pass their MOT?
90.1% of the 64,654 2017 Hyundai i20 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Hyundai i20?
Visibility, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by tyres (4.3%).
Does the 2017 i20 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 18.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 64,654 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.