2012 Hyundai i30 — MOT failures & pass rate
59,776 MOT tests on the 2012 Hyundai i30 are in this dataset, and 73.2% of them passed. That is 5.6 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and steering.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.4%) and brakes (11.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, rbt (sp) and stop lamp — track rod end alone was recorded 6,212 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.8% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.3pp more often than petrol ones (28.1% vs 24.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 7,444 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.8% | 7,076 |
| 3 | Steering | 9.8% | 5,842 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.4% | 5,022 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.0% | 2,989 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.0% | 2,965 |
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 | 6,212 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 4,381 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 2,682 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,291 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 2,037 |
| 6 | Parking brake performance | 1,968 |
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 | 27.7% | 16,547 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.6% | 14,133 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.8% | 12,418 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.6% | 6,925 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 5,909 |
| 6 | Steering | 7.5% | 4,515 |
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 | 1,205 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 10,267 | 19.6% |
| 60-90k | 21,336 | 26.7% |
| 90-120k | 16,255 | 29.8% |
| 120-150k | 7,095 | 31.0% |
| 150k+ | 3,607 | 30.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 35,660 | 28.1% |
| Petrol | 24,116 | 24.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,207 | 24.6% |
| 2022 | 12,213 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 12,163 | 27.0% |
| 2024 | 11,844 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 11,349 | 28.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 i30
On a 2012 i30, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.8% 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.
- Steering (9.8% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
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 2012 Hyundai i30s pass their MOT?
73.2% of the 59,776 2012 Hyundai i30 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Hyundai i30?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.4% of tests, followed by brakes (11.8%).
Does the 2012 i30 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 30.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 59,776 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.