2010 Hyundai i20 diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2010 Hyundai i20 diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2010 Hyundai i20 diesel than on all cars registered in 2010.

• Rigid brake pipes3.4× usual
  Hyundai i20

  21.8% All 2010 cars

  6.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 1.1% of all 2010 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.

• Braking performance2.5× usual
  Hyundai i20

  15.2% All 2010 cars

  6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 6.2%, against 2.4% of all 2010 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 bushes12.1× usual
  Hyundai i20

  8.5% All 2010 cars

  0.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 0.1% of all 2010 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.

• Diesel smoke emissions6.1× usual
  Hyundai i20

  5.5% All 2010 cars

  0.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5.4%, against 0.8% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

• Steering rack inner joints2.8× usual
  Hyundai i20

  6.8% All 2010 cars

  2.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

  At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Common 2010 Hyundai i20 diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2010 Hyundai i20 diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Brakes
  50% 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.

• Suspension
  44% 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.

• Tyres
  36% 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.

• Lights and electrics
  33% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  15% 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
  11% 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 2010 Hyundai i20 diesel

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.

• Fast clutch wear

  Manual gearbox

  Clutches wear remarkably quickly on many cars.

  At the viewing: Check the clutch bites cleanly, every gear selects easily and it doesn't slip under hard acceleration.

  Source: What Car?: used Hyundai i20 (2009-2015) review

• Blocked particulate filter (diesel)

  Diesel

  Diesels used mainly for short trips can clog their particulate filter, which can be costly to replace.

  At the viewing: Ask what journeys it does, and watch for a DPF warning.

  Source: What Car?: used Hyundai i20 (2009-2015) review

• Rust from poor repairs and fragile keys

  All engines

  Badly repaired accident damage can rust in odd places, and the folding key can fall apart and is expensive to replace.

  At the viewing: Look for rust or mismatched paint, and check the key.

  Source: What Car?: used Hyundai i20 (2009-2015) review

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2010 Hyundai i20 diesel

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

1. Has the clutch been replaced?
2. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 3.4× as often on the 2010 Hyundai i20 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the 2010 Hyundai i20 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the front strut mounts and bushes? (Flagged at MOT 12.1× as often on the 2010 Hyundai i20 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?