2018 Hyundai i30 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 41,113 MOT tests, the 2018 Hyundai i30 recorded an 89.6% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 10.4%, so the 2018 i30 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.5%) and visibility (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 1,223 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.7% in the 0-30k band and 24.1% in the 150k+ band, a 17.4-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.4pp more often than petrol ones (12.3% vs 10.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.5% | 2,256 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.6% | 1,477 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.5% | 1,033 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 998 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 336 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 124 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,223 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 889 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 613 |
| 4 | Washers | 525 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 491 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 207 |
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 | 25.6% | 10,543 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.0% | 5,773 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.3% | 2,584 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,336 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 643 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 451 |
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 | 14,661 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 19,422 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 5,791 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 930 | 15.8% |
| 120-150k | 195 | 20.5% |
| 150k+ | 112 | 24.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 34,576 | 10.0% |
| Diesel | 6,537 | 12.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,176 | 7.5% |
| 2022 | 8,220 | 9.5% |
| 2023 | 8,246 | 10.6% |
| 2024 | 8,221 | 11.6% |
| 2025 | 8,250 | 12.6% |
What to check before buying a 2018 i30
On a 2018 i30, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.5% 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.
- Visibility (3.6% 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.
- Brakes (2.5% 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.
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 2018 Hyundai i30s pass their MOT?
89.6% of the 41,113 2018 Hyundai i30 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Hyundai i30?
Tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by visibility (3.6%).
Does the 2018 i30 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 24.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 41,113 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.