In 2025, 118,867 Hyundai i20 cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 71% passed first time, compared with 70% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the i20 about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 128 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 5 years old, 88% of i20s passed first time (all cars that age: 86%). By 16 years, that figure is 57% (all cars: 58%). It starts out ahead of the average car but falls behind from around 12 years, which is worth knowing if you are buying an older one.
Hyundai i20 All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | i20 passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 years | 3,871 | 88% | 86% | 32,305 |
| 6 years | 7,402 | 86% | 84% | 37,882 |
| 7 years | 8,690 | 84% | 81% | 45,187 |
| 8 years | 11,693 | 81% | 78% | 52,533 |
| 9 years | 13,738 | 79% | 75% | 58,318 |
| 10 years | 12,728 | 78% | 72% | 64,697 |
| 11 years | 12,838 | 67% | 69% | 65,511 |
| 12 years | 12,196 | 60% | 66% | 70,332 |
| 13 years | 9,270 | 58% | 63% | 75,175 |
| 14 years | 9,036 | 59% | 61% | 82,711 |
| 15 years | 8,796 | 60% | 59% | 83,405 |
| 16 years | 8,357 | 57% | 58% | 84,553 |
What fails most on a Hyundai i20
The area that lets the i20 down most, relative to other cars, is seat belts and airbags: 1.7% of tests failed on it, 5.2 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on body and structure and emissions and leaks.
Share of i20 tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 5.1% |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | Suspension | 4.6% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 4.0% |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | Visibility | 3.9% |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | Visibility | 3.2% |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 2.9% |
What to check when buying a used i20
Based on where the i20 fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Seat belts and airbags: Pull every belt out fully and let it retract, check the buckles latch, and make sure the airbag light goes out after starting. More
- Visibility: Check the windscreen for chips in the driver’s view, the wipers for smearing and the washers for working jets. Repair guide
- Brakes: Look through the wheels for lipped or scored discs, check the handbrake holds on a slope, and feel for pulling or vibration under firm braking. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific i20
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a i20Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Hyundai i20?
In 2025, 71% of Hyundai i20 cars passed their MOT first time, across 118,867 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 70%.
What do Hyundai i20 cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (5.1% of tests); a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (4.6% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (4.0% of tests).
Other Hyundai models
Hyundai i10 (71%), Hyundai Tucson (80%), Hyundai i30 (64%), Hyundai IX35 (64%), Hyundai Ioniq (86%), Hyundai Kona (86%). All Hyundai models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.