2021 Hyundai i20 — MOT failures & pass rate
13,037 MOT tests on the 2021 Hyundai i20 are in this dataset, and 91.7% of them passed. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (7.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: visibility, recorded in 6.7% of tests against 2.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and washers — wipers alone was recorded 996 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 i20 fails 7.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.8% at 60-90k, a spread of only 2.3 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 8.2% of the time against 8.3% for hybrid.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 14.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 9.6% in 2023 to 7.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 6.7% | 869 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.8% | 364 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 289 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.0% | 135 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 72 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 37 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 996 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 217 |
| 3 | Washers | 165 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 77 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 61 |
| 6 | Horn | 58 |
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 | 14.6% | 1,904 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.2% | 810 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.6% | 603 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.1% | 403 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 111 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 95 |
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 | 9,496 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 3,350 | 10.2% |
| 60-90k | 173 | 9.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 9,121 | 8.3% |
| Petrol | 3,916 | 8.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 167 | 9.6% |
| 2024 | 6,435 | 8.7% |
| 2025 | 6,419 | 7.8% |
What to check before buying a 2021 i20
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 6.7% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (6.7% 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 (2.8% 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 (2.2% 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 2021 Hyundai i20s pass their MOT?
91.7% of the 13,037 2021 Hyundai i20 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Hyundai i20?
Visibility, recorded in 6.7% of tests, followed by tyres (2.8%).
Does the 2021 i20 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 9.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,037 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.