2021 Hyundai i30 — MOT failures & pass rate
3,988 MOT tests on the 2021 Hyundai i30 are in this dataset, and 89.7% of them passed. That is 1.9 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 8.3%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.7%) and visibility (4.2%) 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 catalyst emissions — wipers alone was recorded 148 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 15.1% once past 60-90k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.8% of the time against 11.1% for hybrid.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.3% of tests failed in 2023 against 10.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.7% | 188 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.2% | 166 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 60 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 58 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.4% | 54 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 148 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 71 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 49 |
| 4 | Washers | 47 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 40 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 34 |
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 | 19.9% | 794 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.4% | 456 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.2% | 248 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.8% | 231 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 156 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 44 |
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 | 2,203 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,576 | 11.4% |
| 60-90k | 179 | 15.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,034 | 9.8% |
| Hybrid | 1,753 | 11.1% |
| Diesel | 201 | 7.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 60 | 8.3% |
| 2024 | 1,958 | 10.5% |
| 2025 | 1,965 | 10.1% |
What to check before buying a 2021 i30
On a 2021 i30, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.7% 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 (4.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.5% 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 2021 Hyundai i30s pass their MOT?
89.7% of the 3,988 2021 Hyundai i30 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Hyundai i30?
Tyres, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by visibility (4.2%).
Does the 2021 i30 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 15.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,988 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.