2009 Hyundai i30 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 60,919 MOT tests, the 2009 Hyundai i30 recorded a 73.2% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 25.4% of the time, so this is 1.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.6% of all tests — 4.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, position lamp and linkage ball joints — stop lamp alone was recorded 4,427 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.5% in the 0-30k band and 32.9% in the 150k+ band, a 20.4-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.5pp more often than petrol ones (29.4% vs 25.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.6% | 10,722 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.0% | 7,921 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.4% | 6,352 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.2% | 3,797 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.6% | 3,402 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.6% | 2,815 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 4,427 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 4,078 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joints | 3,234 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 3,089 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 3,006 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 2,599 |
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 | 37.8% | 23,009 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.5% | 18,576 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.0% | 18,253 |
| 4 | Other defects | 16.0% | 9,718 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 7,104 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.4% | 5,102 |
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 | 1,893 | 12.5% |
| 30-60k | 10,037 | 19.7% |
| 60-90k | 19,978 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 17,801 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 7,903 | 32.0% |
| 150k+ | 3,280 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 45,929 | 25.9% |
| Diesel | 14,990 | 29.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,638 | 25.1% |
| 2022 | 13,202 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 12,597 | 27.5% |
| 2024 | 11,443 | 27.7% |
| 2025 | 10,039 | 28.1% |
What to check before buying a 2009 i30
On a 2009 i30, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.0% 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 (10.4% 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 2009 Hyundai i30s pass their MOT?
73.2% of the 60,919 2009 Hyundai i30 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Hyundai i30?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.6% of tests, followed by suspension (13.0%).
Does the 2009 i30 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 0-30k band to 32.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 60,919 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.