All models / Superminis / Hyundai i20 / What to check

What to check: Hyundai i20

BBy age

BBy miles

Ranked across all years of the Hyundai i20, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 1.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Bushes and ball jointsDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 2.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 5.9%

Lights and horn walkroundRuns high on this modelWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 1.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.8%

A binding brakeRuns high on this modelAfter the test drive, hold the back of your hand near each wheel hub. One wheel running much hotter than the rest is a sticking caliper. A car that slows itself down when you lift off on a flat road is saying the same thing.Recorded on 1.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.7%

Handbrake holdRuns high on this modelStop on a hill and put the handbrake on. It should hold the car firmly within a few clicks, or straight away on the button if it is electronic. Roll-back means adjustment at best, new cables or a caliper motor at worst.Recorded on 1.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.3%

Steering playWith the engine running and the car parked, waggle the wheel lightly about the straight-ahead. The wheels should respond almost at once. A dead zone before anything happens means wear in the rack or the track rod ends.Recorded on 1.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.1%

LeaksLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 1.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourRuns high on this modelCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 20.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 11.1%

Pads and discsLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 12.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Windscreen and wipersScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 2.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.7%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Start it stone cold and dip the clutch pulling away gently.A shudder or shake through the car is the common clutch judder fault, not just a 'notchy' pedal.

Listen hard for 2-3 seconds right after a cold start, especially on a 1.0-litre turbo petrol.A rattle or chatter that fades as revs rise points to timing chain wear.

On a diesel, check the dash for a DPF or EGR warning light and ask when it last did a motorway run.A car that's only done short trips is more likely to have a clogged filter brewing.

Pull the full MOT history, not just the pass/fail.Repeat brake advisories year after year suggest discs are being replaced with the same cheap parts, not the underlying issue.

Brake hard from moderate speed on a quiet road.A pulsing pedal or the car pulling to one side means warped or scored discs.

Pair your phone and leave the infotainment running for ten minutes.A freeze, black screen, or Bluetooth drop-out on a test drive will likely recur.

On an automatic, pull away from a dead stop and feel the 1st-to-2nd shift.A hesitation or jerk here is the pattern reported from around 60,000 miles onward.

Full Hyundai i20 reliability report