Hyundai i30 Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Hyundai i30 passes its MOT first time on 67.3% of tests, 4.2 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (71.5%). That puts it ahead of 26% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2019 i30 does best (beats 67% of cars) and the 2011 worst (beats 15%).

Of its engines, the 1.0 Petrol does best (beats 57%) and the 1.6 Diesel worst (beats 21%).

Better than average on body & structure, emissions & leaks.

Watch these weak spots

Lights & electrics1.3×as often as a typical car

Brakes1.7×as often as a typical car

Handbrake performance4.4×as often as a typical car

Brake lights2.2×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Hyundai i30Typical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

Beats 35%

Beats 32%

Beats 31%

Beats 20%

Beats 15%

Beats 20%

Beats 19%

Beats 25%

Beats 32%

Beats 26%

Beats 57%

Beats 63%

Beats 67%

Beats 51%

Beats 47%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	2007–2019	419,615	65.3%	Beats 21%	D
1.4 Petrol	2007–2020	310,843	67.0%	Beats 28%	D
1.6 Petrol	2007–2016	82,285	67.2%	Beats 33%	D
1.0 Petrol	2017–2020	36,151	84.1%	Beats 57%	C
2.0 Petrol	2018–2021	15,882	88.4%	Beats 80%	B
2.0 Diesel	2008–2008	2,430	51.4%	Beats 32%	D
1.4 Diesel	2012–2012	1,206	58.8%	Beats 15%	E
1.5 Hybrid	2021–2021	1,076	84.3%	Beats 13%	E
1.0 Hybrid	2021–2021	1,066	86.1%	Beats 36%	D

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Brakes: 10.7% of tests fail on brakes, against 6.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics

14.1% vs 11.0%

Brakes

10.7% vs 6.2%

Suspension

7.7% vs 8.6%

Tyres

7.2% vs 6.6%

Visibility

5.2% vs 4.6%

Steering

4.6% vs 1.6%

Body & structure

1.7% vs 2.7%

Emissions & leaks

1.4% vs 2.6%

Seat belts & airbags

0.3% vs 0.7%

Wheels

0.3% vs 0.4%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Handbrake performance 4.4× typical
Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope.
Brake lights 2.2× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
Track rod ends 3.0× typical
Feel for play or knocking in the steering and check for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres.
Headlight bulbs & units 1.8× typical
Check dipped and main beam on both sides.
Brake performance 1.9× typical
On the test drive, brake firmly: the car should stop straight with no pulsing through the pedal.
Anti-roll bar links 2.4× typical
A knock or rattle over uneven roads usually means worn anti-roll bar links (cheap to fix).

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Hyundai i30Typical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Handbrake performance	6.7%	1.5%	4.4×
Brake lights	4.7%	2.1%	2.2×
Track rod ends	3.8%	1.3%	3.0×
Tyre damage & cracking	3.7%	3.6%	1.0×
Headlight bulbs & units	3.6%	2.0%	1.8×
Tyre tread depth	3.3%	2.7%	1.2×
Sidelights	3.2%	2.6%	1.2×
Brake pads	2.8%	2.1%	1.3×
Windscreen wipers	2.6%	2.2%	1.2×
Windscreen washers	2.3%	2.1%	1.1×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	43.9
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	40.4
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement	36.7
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play	34.3
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED	33.2
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	32.7
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	28.1
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm	26.0

Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2021 Hyundai i303 engines87.2% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	1,259	90.7%	Beats 85%	A
1.5 Hybrid	1,076	84.3%	Beats 13%	E
1.0 Hybrid	1,066	86.1%	Beats 36%	D

2020 Hyundai i303 engines86.6% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	2,290	87.0%	Beats 56%	C
1.4 Petrol	1,620	85.9%	Beats 45%	C
1.0 Petrol	1,141	86.9%	Beats 50%	C

2019 Hyundai i304 engines87.1% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	7,358	86.6%	Beats 57%	C
2.0 Petrol	7,114	88.9%	Beats 82%	A
1.0 Petrol	4,008	86.4%	Beats 61%	B
1.6 Diesel	1,541	83.3%	Beats 62%	B

2018 Hyundai i304 engines84.9% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	16,952	84.1%	Beats 56%	C
1.4 Petrol	14,542	86.2%	Beats 69%	B
1.6 Diesel	6,798	82.1%	Beats 55%	C
2.0 Petrol	5,219	87.8%	Beats 84%	A

2017 Hyundai i303 engines82.7% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	17,031	79.9%	Beats 47%	C
1.0 Petrol	14,050	83.3%	Beats 57%	C
1.4 Petrol	13,299	85.6%	Beats 70%	B

2016 Hyundai i303 engines76.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	46,909	74.8%	Beats 21%	D
1.4 Petrol	20,457	78.4%	Beats 29%	D
1.6 Petrol	8,121	81.6%	Beats 50%	C

2015 Hyundai i303 engines75.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	78,486	74.2%	Beats 31%	D
1.4 Petrol	31,341	76.5%	Beats 31%	D
1.6 Petrol	11,708	78.1%	Beats 42%	C

2014 Hyundai i303 engines70.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	51,806	68.1%	Beats 20%	D
1.4 Petrol	29,285	71.9%	Beats 29%	D
1.6 Petrol	6,359	78.3%	Beats 55%	C

2013 Hyundai i303 engines64.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	55,840	63.2%	Beats 18%	E
1.4 Petrol	31,006	65.8%	Beats 19%	E
1.6 Petrol	6,682	72.4%	Beats 41%	C

2012 Hyundai i304 engines61.4% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	45,671	59.3%	Beats 18%	E
1.4 Petrol	27,648	63.6%	Beats 24%	D
1.6 Petrol	5,135	68.7%	Beats 33%	D
1.4 Diesel	1,206	58.8%	Beats 15%	E

2011 Hyundai i303 engines57.9% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	43,826	55.5%	Beats 12%	E
1.4 Petrol	30,464	59.9%	Beats 17%	E
1.6 Petrol	8,269	63.3%	Beats 22%	D

2010 Hyundai i303 engines56.0% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	40,353	54.1%	Beats 19%	E
1.4 Petrol	37,034	56.7%	Beats 20%	E
1.6 Petrol	18,626	58.4%	Beats 22%	D

2009 Hyundai i303 engines57.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	55,177	58.1%	Beats 32%	D
1.6 Diesel	20,394	53.1%	Beats 26%	D
1.6 Petrol	8,117	60.6%	Beats 41%	C

2008 Hyundai i304 engines53.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	8,379	51.4%	Beats 30%	D
1.4 Petrol	8,261	54.8%	Beats 33%	D
1.6 Petrol	6,747	55.4%	Beats 34%	D
2.0 Diesel	2,430	51.4%	Beats 32%	D

2007 Hyundai i303 engines53.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	3,351	54.6%	Beats 37%	D
1.6 Diesel	2,581	50.3%	Beats 30%	D
1.6 Petrol	2,521	56.2%	Beats 38%	D

FAQ

What is the Hyundai i30 MOT pass rate?

67.3% of MOT tests on the Hyundai i30 were passed first time, based on 870,554 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2007–2021. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 71.5% of the time.

Is the Hyundai i30 reliable?

On MOT results it rates D (below average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 26% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Hyundai i30 year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2019 i30 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 67% of cars on UK roads. The 2011 does worst: it beats 15%.

Which Hyundai i30 engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.0 Petrol does best: it beats 57% of cars on UK roads. The 1.6 Diesel does worst: it beats 21%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Hyundai i30?

The most common failure items are handbrake performance, brake lights, track rod ends. Compared with similar cars, handbrake performance comes up 4.4× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

Hyundai i30 reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ