Hyundai i30 MOT failure rate and common faults
101,997 Hyundai i30 cars aged 3 to 20 took their MOT in 2025, and 35.4% failed at the first attempt. An average car of the same age failed 30.6% of the time, which makes the Hyundai i30 16% more likely to fail than the typical car on the road. Here is what fails, and which years to look for.
35.4%
failed first time
101,997 MOT tests in 2025
+16%
vs same age average
average car of this age mix: 30.6%
171 of 208
age adjusted rank
among cars; 1 fails least
140.9
dangerous defects per 1,000
same age average: 111.6
What fails on a Hyundai i30 MOT
Failure items recorded per 1,000 tests, by part of the car, set against an average car with exactly the same spread of ages. A figure well above average is a weak spot worth checking before you buy.
The most common Hyundai i30 MOT failures
The individual failure items testers recorded most often, per 1,000 tests.
| Failure item | Area | Per 1,000 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Stop lamp: not working | Lights and electrics | 59.5 |
| Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play | Steering | 47.0 |
| Parking brake efficiency: efficiency below requirements | Brakes | 46.5 |
| Position lamp: not working | Lights and electrics | 40.1 |
| Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 40.1 |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | Lights and electrics | 34.7 |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 28.8 |
| Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side | Brakes | 26.6 |
| Ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 26.0 |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Windscreen, wipers and mirrors | 24.5 |
Hyundai i30 MOT failure rate by year
Every car fails more often as it ages, so each registration year is compared with the average for all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 500 tests are left out.
| First registered | Tests | Failed | Same age average | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,425 | 10.4% | 11.4% | 27,200 |
| 2021 | 1,799 | 13.3% | 12.8% | 34,400 |
| 2020 | 1,576 | 13.1% | 14.1% | 42,600 |
| 2019 | 4,148 | 13.6% | 16.5% | 44,800 |
| 2018 | 7,343 | 17.1% | 19.1% | 55,800 |
| 2017 | 6,707 | 20.0% | 21.8% | 64,600 |
| 2016 | 9,416 | 31.2% | 25.1% | 73,300 |
| 2015 | 13,464 | 32.5% | 28.1% | 80,800 |
| 2014 | 9,654 | 37.8% | 31.4% | 87,600 |
| 2013 | 10,124 | 42.4% | 34.3% | 94,200 |
| 2012 | 8,399 | 45.1% | 36.6% | 100,200 |
| 2011 | 8,338 | 47.2% | 38.8% | 95,100 |
| 2010 | 9,241 | 47.6% | 40.7% | 97,200 |
| 2009 | 7,530 | 47.2% | 41.8% | 94,500 |
| 2008 | 2,111 | 49.1% | 42.9% | 109,400 |
| 2007 | 721 | 51.3% | 42.7% | 106,800 |
Advisories to look for in a Hyundai i30's MOT history
An advisory is a tester's warning that something is wearing but has not failed yet. These are the ones written most often on the Hyundai i30, per 1,000 tests. If the car you are looking at has one of these, ask whether it has been fixed since.
- Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge310.6
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened162.6
- Tyres: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing133.5
- Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement125.1
- Brake pads: wearing thin109.3
- Coil spring: corroded75.0
Checking a used Hyundai i30 before you buy
Against cars of the same age, the Hyundai i30 fails more often than average on lights and electrics, brakes and steering. Start there.
Lights and electrics
Walk round the car with every light on: headlights on dip and main beam, indicators, brake lights, fog lights and the number plate lamp. A pattern of electrical faults costs more than a bulb.
Brakes
Look through the wheel spokes at the discs for a deep lip or scoring, check the handbrake holds the car on a slope, and feel for a pull to one side when braking hard.
Steering
With the engine running, rock the wheel gently: there should be almost no free play. Listen for knocks on full lock and look for power steering fluid leaks.
Averages only take you so far. The specific car's MOT history shows whether it has already failed on any of these, how often advisories were ignored, and whether the mileage climbs steadily from test to test. Read our guide to reading a car's MOT history before you go to view it.
Fuel mix of the Hyundai i30 cars tested: Petrol 53%, Diesel 45%. Average age at test 11.1 years, average recorded mileage 81,600.
Hyundai i30 MOT questions
What is the Hyundai i30 MOT failure rate?
35.4% of Hyundai i30 cars failed their first MOT test of 2025, from 101,997 tests on vehicles aged 3 to 20. An average car with the same age mix failed 30.6% of the time, so the Hyundai i30 was 16% more likely to fail.
What fails most often on a Hyundai i30 MOT?
Lights and electrics caused the most failure items, at 254 per 1,000 tests. The single most common failure item was "Stop lamp: not working", recorded 59.5 times per 1,000 tests.
Which Hyundai i30 year has the best MOT record?
Measured against cars of the same age, 2019 registrations did best: 13.6% failed against an average of 16.5% for cars that age. Older cars always fail more often, so compare a year with its age group rather than with newer cars.
Does this tell me whether a particular Hyundai i30 will pass?
No. These are averages across every Hyundai i30 tested in 2025. The car in front of you has its own record: its full MOT history shows every pass, failure and advisory it has had, and it is free to view by registration.
Other Hyundai models
- Hyundai i1027.5% failed
- Hyundai Tucson17.0% failed
- Hyundai i2027.4% failed
- Hyundai Kona13.8% failed
- Hyundai ix3536.2% failed
- Hyundai Ioniq13.8% failed
Ranked close to the Hyundai i30
- Kia Ceedrank 168
- Nissan X-Trailrank 169
- Ford Galaxyrank 170
- Nissan Pulsarrank 172
How these figures are calculated
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 release. We count first tests of cars and small vans (class 4) aged 3 to 20, so a car that fails and is retested is counted once. A failure includes faults fixed and passed within the same visit. The same age average weights the national failure rate for each age by how many Hyundai i30 cars of that age were tested, so a model is never penalised for having an older fleet. Make and model are as recorded at the test; trim levels are combined. Full method and rankings.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.