2014 Hyundai i30 — MOT failures & pass rate
63,292 MOT tests on the 2014 Hyundai i30 are in this dataset, and 77.3% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (17.5% fail rate), the 2014 i30 comes out 5.2pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, steering and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (10.5%) and steering (9.3%) 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 tread depth — track rod end alone was recorded 6,509 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.1% versus 9.7%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.9pp more often than petrol ones (24.3% vs 20.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 10.5% | 6,634 |
| 2 | Steering | 9.3% | 5,860 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 5,503 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.2% | 3,298 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 2,240 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.1% | 1,990 |
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 | 6,509 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 3,796 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,299 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 2,098 |
| 5 | Parking brake performance | 1,956 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 1,798 |
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 | 27.1% | 17,150 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.6% | 14,277 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.3% | 7,753 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.5% | 6,024 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 5,063 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.4% | 4,053 |
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 | 2,664 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 18,970 | 17.3% |
| 60-90k | 24,031 | 24.5% |
| 90-120k | 11,754 | 27.5% |
| 120-150k | 4,071 | 29.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,797 | 29.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 38,319 | 24.3% |
| Petrol | 24,973 | 20.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,251 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 12,709 | 21.9% |
| 2023 | 12,924 | 23.3% |
| 2024 | 12,852 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 12,556 | 24.8% |
What to check before buying a 2014 i30
On a 2014 i30, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (10.5% 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 (9.3% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
- Lighting & signalling (8.7% 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 2014 Hyundai i30s pass their MOT?
77.3% of the 63,292 2014 Hyundai i30 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Hyundai i30?
Brakes, recorded in 10.5% of tests, followed by steering (9.3%).
Does the 2014 i30 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 29.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 63,292 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.