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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2021 Hyundai i20 MOT fail rate and common faults

How Hyundai i20 cars first used in 2021 did at their MOTs from 2024 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 12,177 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 4 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 4 (n=6,032)12.1%
All cars at 4 years (n=8,699,937)13.4%
Difference−1.2 pts
MOT tests of 2021 cars, 2024 to 202512,177

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 4 years old, Hyundai i20 cars first used in 2021 failed 12.1% of MOTs (6,032 tests), 1.2 points below the 13.4% for all cars that age.
  • From 2024 to 2025, as these cars went from 3 to 4 years old, the fail rate moved from 14.2% to 12.1%.
  • Hyundai i20 cars first used a year earlier, in 2020, failed 10.9% at the same age of 4 years (4,280 tests, in 2024).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Hyundai i20 at 4 years, is tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative, at 0.4 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 0.3).

MOT fail rate by test year

Hyundai i20 cars first used in 2021: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
20243 years14.2%6,14512.1%+2.1 pts
20254 years12.1%6,03213.4%−1.2 pts

Most common faults at 4 years

These figures cover all Hyundai i20 MOTs at 4 years: cars first used 2018 to 2021, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=26,573). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Wipers not clearing screen Wear3.52.5
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear1.01.5
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear1.00.7
Headlight aimed too high Wear0.70.6
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear0.71.4
Brake pads under 1.5 mm Wear0.61.3
Headlamp aim: too low Wear0.50.6
Washers: not working Wear0.40.3
Tyre condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Wear0.40.4
Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative0.40.3

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=26,573). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear10.46.3
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear6.912.4
Brake pads wearing thin Wear3.26.9
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened2.85.2
Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt1.82.2
Wipers: blade defective Wear1.51.3
Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre1.52.1
Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear1.21.8
Windscreen: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.11.5
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively1.01.7

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=26,573). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 4 years

These figures cover all Hyundai i20 MOTs at 4 years: cars first used 2018 to 2021, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=26,573). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Petrol82.8%10.6%21,95212.0%23,590 miles
Hybrid17.2%12.7%4,54911.3%24,134 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 4 years

These figures cover all Hyundai i20 MOTs at 4 years: cars first used 2018 to 2021, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=26,573). At 4 years, Hyundai i20 cars at 30,000 to 60,000 miles failed more often (14.4%, n=7,982) than those at under 30,000 miles (9.3%, n=18,002). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Under 30,000 miles9.3%18,00210.2%
30,000 to 60,000 miles14.4%7,98215.5%

Car tax rules for a 2021 car

  • Cars first registered from 1 April 2017 pay a first-year rate set by CO2 emissions, then the standard rate each year. A petrol, diesel or hybrid car with a list price over £40,000 also pays the expensive car supplement for five years, from the second tax payment.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
  • The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the Hyundai i20

Other Hyundai models first used in 2021

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Hyundai Tucson (2021)4 years in 202510.4%21,68213.4%
Hyundai Kona (2021)4 years in 202513.8%16,45713.4%
Hyundai Ioniq (2021)4 years in 202511.4%10,46113.4%
Hyundai i10 (2021)4 years in 202514.7%8,17313.4%
Hyundai i30 (2021)4 years in 202513.2%1,80713.4%

More on the Hyundai i20

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2021 Hyundai i20 cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.