2012 Hyundai Ix20 — MOT failures & pass rate
23,346 MOT tests on the 2012 Hyundai Ix20 are in this dataset, and 74.8% of them passed. MPVs of a similar age fail 22.8% of the time, so this is 2.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.6% of tests against 11.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, rbt (sp) and stop lamp — track rod end alone was recorded 2,155 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.6% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 24.4% fail against 27.9% for diesel, a 3.5-point gap across 23,346 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 3,419 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.6% | 2,700 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.8% | 2,062 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.4% | 1,956 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.6% | 853 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 820 |
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 | 2,155 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 1,689 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 1,578 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 1,346 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 899 |
| 6 | Parking brake performance | 831 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 26.6% | 6,206 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.8% | 5,795 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.5% | 4,547 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.7% | 2,274 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 1,829 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.0% | 1,412 |
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 | 1,829 | 13.2% |
| 30-60k | 8,993 | 21.3% |
| 60-90k | 8,252 | 28.3% |
| 90-120k | 3,328 | 32.4% |
| 120-150k | 708 | 32.6% |
| 150k+ | 234 | 31.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 18,525 | 24.4% |
| Diesel | 4,821 | 27.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,602 | 22.9% |
| 2022 | 4,657 | 24.3% |
| 2023 | 4,721 | 25.1% |
| 2024 | 4,749 | 27.0% |
| 2025 | 4,617 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Ix20
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.6% 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.
- Suspension (8.8% 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.
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 2012 Hyundai Ix20s pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 23,346 2012 Hyundai Ix20 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Hyundai Ix20?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by brakes (11.6%).
Does the 2012 Ix20 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.2% in the 0-30k band to 31.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 23,346 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.