2012 Hyundai i20 petrol: common problems and MOT failures

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

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

• Rigid brake pipes3.2× usual
  Hyundai i20

  15.8% All 2012 cars

  5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, 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 cover5.5× usual
  Hyundai i20

  13.1% All 2012 cars

  2.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 6.3%, 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.

• Sidelights1.8× usual
  Hyundai i20

  8.5% All 2012 cars

  4.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 8.3%, 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.

• Number plate lights1.6× usual
  Hyundai i20

  10.5% All 2012 cars

  6.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

  At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

• Braking performance1.7× usual
  Hyundai i20

  8.1% All 2012 cars

  4.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 1.9% of all 2012 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.

Common 2012 Hyundai i20 petrol MOT failures and advisories

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

• Brakes
  37% 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
  35% 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
  31% 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
  30% 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.

• Oil and fluid leaks
  6% 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 2012 Hyundai i20 petrol

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

• 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 petrol

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 3.2× as often on the 2012 Hyundai i20 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 5.5× as often on the 2012 Hyundai i20 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the sidelights? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the 2012 Hyundai i20 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?