Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Hyundai I20?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2008 Hyundai I20?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2008 Hyundai I20?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2008 Hyundai I20 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

35% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2008 Hyundai I20 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 158 vehicles, the 2008 Hyundai I20 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 79.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Hyundai I20?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Hyundai I20 are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (54.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (42.5% of vehicles), Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (42.3% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2008 Hyundai I20?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Hyundai I20 (2008)

158 real MOT outcomes analysed • 79.6% first-time pass rate

2008 Hyundai I20

CarHunch analysed 158 real MOT records for the 2008 Hyundai I20. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2008 Hyundai i20 sits right at the UK average with a 79.5% first-time pass rate, but the real concern is that 35.4% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above acceptable levels for a buyer considering one. This isn't a reliability disaster, but it's a warning sign that structural or safety issues are more common than you'd want.

These i20s are running at a typical mileage for their age (58,700 miles median), which is reasonable, but they're averaging 3.4 failures and nearly 19 advisories per test—suggesting ongoing wear and maintenance costs. Before buying, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, steering, and braking components, since dangerous defects here often relate to those systems.

We have limited data for the 2008 Hyundai I20 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

79.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

35.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.39

Over 15.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

59k

Middle half: 45k–73k

For context

These stats describe 158 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 158 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 54.8%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 42.5%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 32.5%

Oil leak, but not excessive

Lighting 23.9%

Nearside Front Position lamp not working · Offside Front Position lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 158 Hyundai I20 cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Hyundai I20

Based on MOT data from 158 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 35.4% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (98%)	155	79.8%	3.31

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Hyundai I20 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

58,707

typical

44,744

low mileage

73,248

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Hyundai I20 vehicles fall between 44,744 and 73,248 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 44,744 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 44,744–73,248 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Hyundai I20s sit.

⚠ Over 98,884 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Hyundai I20 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 51% of 2008 Hyundai I20s are still active.

77 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 51% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

15.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.39

Avg failures per vehicle

18.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Hyundai I20: All I20 years → Which year to buy? →

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Or browse all models: Hyundai →

Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Hyundai I20 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing