Used car guide

2009 Hyundai i10: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Hyundai i10 first registered in 2009: we looked at the 56,919 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

56,919MOTs of 2009 cars, done in 2023–2025
60%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 59%)
4,400typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for coil springs

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2009 Hyundai i10?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2009 Hyundai i10 than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Coil springs2× usual
    Hyundai i10
    22.6% All 2009 cars
    11.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 4.2% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Rigid brake pipes2× usual
    Hyundai i10
    14.4% All 2009 cars
    7.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.2% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Headlights1.8× usual
    Hyundai i10
    12.5% All 2009 cars
    7.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 3.8% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Braking performance1.8× usual
    Hyundai i10
    11.5% All 2009 cars
    6.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.8%, against 2.6% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Front strut mounts and bushes6.5× usual
    Hyundai i10
    5.2% All 2009 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.1% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 1.3% here, against 10.4% of all 2009 cars. Exhaust system: 2.9% here, against 7.9% of all 2009 cars.

Common 2009 Hyundai i10 MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2009 Hyundai i10 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    43% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    38% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    36% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    34% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    11% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    7% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Known faults on the 2009 Hyundai i10

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2009 Hyundai i10

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Has the cambelt been changed, and is there an invoice?
  2. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2009 Hyundai i10 as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2009 Hyundai i10 as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the 2009 Hyundai i10 as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Hyundai i10?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Hyundai i10 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023240Tyres 21%
20224,722Tyres 23%
20217,639Tyres 27%
202010,145Tyres 23%
201953,902Tyres 22%
201862,601Tyres 26%
201770,458Brakes 28%
201665,600Brakes 29%
201566,265Tyres 30%
201468,369Brakes 31%
201361,224Tyres 30%
201260,127Tyres 32%
201151,013Brakes 34%
201056,229Brakes 39%
200814,036Suspension 52%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Hyundai i10 cars first registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score