2007 Hyundai i30 — MOT failures & pass rate
6,324 MOT tests on the 2007 Hyundai i30 are in this dataset, and 71.4% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (27.0% fail rate), the 2007 i30 comes out 1.6pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.8% of all tests — 3.5 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, position lamp and service brake performance — track rod end alone was recorded 493 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.3% in the 0-30k band and 30.9% in the 150k+ band, a 18.5-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.2pp more often than petrol ones (30.8% vs 27.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 43.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 1,124 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.2% | 900 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.6% | 799 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.5% | 475 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.2% | 393 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 295 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 493 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 458 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 418 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 393 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 386 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 356 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 43.6% | 2,757 |
| 2 | Brakes | 36.1% | 2,285 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.3% | 1,851 |
| 4 | Other defects | 18.7% | 1,180 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.7% | 932 |
| 6 | Steering | 10.1% | 641 |
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 | 73 | 12.3% |
| 30-60k | 595 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,825 | 27.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,989 | 30.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,246 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 593 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,188 | 27.5% |
| Diesel | 2,136 | 30.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,528 | 27.6% |
| 2022 | 1,397 | 28.0% |
| 2023 | 1,273 | 28.3% |
| 2024 | 1,132 | 29.1% |
| 2025 | 994 | 30.8% |
What to check before buying a 2007 i30
On a 2007 i30, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.2% 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 (12.6% 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 2007 Hyundai i30s pass their MOT?
71.4% of the 6,324 2007 Hyundai i30 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Hyundai i30?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by brakes (14.2%).
Does the 2007 i30 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.3% in the 0-30k band to 30.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,324 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.