2012 Hyundai i20 diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 Hyundai i20 diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2012 Hyundai i20 diesel than on all cars registered in 2012.

• Rigid brake pipes4.4× usual
  Hyundai i20

  22% All 2012 cars

  5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 0.8% of all 2012 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.

• Ball joint dust cover5× usual
  Hyundai i20

  11.9% All 2012 cars

  2.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5.1%, against 1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

• Sidelights2.1× usual
  Hyundai i20

  10% All 2012 cars

  4.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 9.7%, against 4.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

• Anti-roll bar link joints2.4× usual
  Hyundai i20

  7.3% All 2012 cars

  3%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 1.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

• Diesel smoke emissions8.4× usual
  Hyundai i20

  4.2% All 2012 cars

  0.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 0.4% of all 2012 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.

Common 2012 Hyundai i20 diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2012 Hyundai i20 diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Brakes
  41% 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
  40% 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
  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.

• Lights and electrics
  32% 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
  10% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

• Exhaust and emissions
  6% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

  At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Known faults on the 2012 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 2012 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 4.4× as often on the 2012 Hyundai i20 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 5× as often on the 2012 Hyundai i20 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the sidelights? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2012 Hyundai i20 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?