2011 Hyundai i40 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,844 MOT tests, the 2011 Hyundai i40 recorded a 74.6% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail 22.8% of the time, so this is 2.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.6%) and lighting & signalling (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, headlamp and brake pads — track rod end alone was recorded 255 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.9% versus 19.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.6% | 367 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 358 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.9% | 341 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.5% | 325 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.4% | 207 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.9% | 112 |
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 | 255 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 131 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 131 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 125 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 123 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 111 |
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 | 28.8% | 1,108 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.9% | 1,071 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.1% | 810 |
| 4 | Other defects | 13.9% | 534 |
| 5 | Steering | 10.8% | 416 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 343 |
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 | 31 | 19.4% |
| 30-60k | 242 | 20.3% |
| 60-90k | 892 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,319 | 26.1% |
| 120-150k | 871 | 27.2% |
| 150k+ | 489 | 24.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,667 | 25.5% |
| Petrol | 177 | 23.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 855 | 24.7% |
| 2022 | 820 | 24.4% |
| 2023 | 791 | 25.9% |
| 2024 | 748 | 27.1% |
| 2025 | 630 | 25.2% |
What to check before buying a 2011 i40
On a 2011 i40, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (9.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.9% 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 2011 Hyundai i40s pass their MOT?
74.6% of the 3,844 2011 Hyundai i40 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Hyundai i40?
Suspension, recorded in 9.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.3%).
Does the 2011 i40 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.4% in the 0-30k band to 24.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,844 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.