2018 Hyundai i40 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,701 MOT tests, the 2018 Hyundai i40 recorded an 88.1% pass rate. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (12.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.2%) and lighting & signalling (4.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 219 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.9% once past 150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.2% | 349 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 303 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.6% | 242 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 221 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 78 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.1% | 77 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 219 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 213 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 208 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 130 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 126 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 72 |
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 | 24.3% | 1,631 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.1% | 1,212 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.2% | 481 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.1% | 210 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.3% | 153 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 131 |
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 | 980 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,439 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,688 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 863 | 15.2% |
| 120-150k | 398 | 15.3% |
| 150k+ | 331 | 13.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,622 | 11.9% |
| Petrol | 79 | 10.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,361 | 9.0% |
| 2022 | 1,379 | 11.6% |
| 2023 | 1,367 | 13.8% |
| 2024 | 1,326 | 12.9% |
| 2025 | 1,268 | 12.2% |
What to check before buying a 2018 i40
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.6% 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 i40s pass their MOT?
88.1% of the 6,701 2018 Hyundai i40 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Hyundai i40?
Tyres, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.5%).
Does the 2018 i40 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.6% in the 0-30k band to 13.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,701 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.