Hyundai I20 years to avoid: 2011, 2012, 2013
Last updated · OBDCode UK editorial
Every I20 year, ranked
The age-adjusted MOT index sets 100 as the pass rate of all UK cars registered in the same year and tested in the same calendar year. Higher is better. This prevents an old car being labelled a “bad year” simply because it is old.
Scroll horizontally to read every ranking column.
| Rank | Year | Index | Vs same-age | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015 Strong | 105.3 | +5.3 pts | 84.0% | 38,006 |
| 2 | 2016 Strong | 104.2 | +4.2 pts | 85.5% | 40,889 |
| 3 | 2018 | 103.5 | +3.5 pts | 89.9% | 25,643 |
| 4 | 2017 | 103.4 | +3.4 pts | 87.4% | 34,674 |
| 5 | 2020 | 103.4 | +3.4 pts | 93.3% | 11,535 |
| 6 | 2019 | 103.0 | +3.0 pts | 91.4% | 21,863 |
| 7 | 2009 | 102.5 | +2.5 pts | 68.9% | 27,260 |
| 8 | 2014 | 101.9 | +1.9 pts | 77.8% | 38,651 |
| 9 | 2010 | 101.8 | +1.8 pts | 69.1% | 28,295 |
| 10 | 2011 Inspect | 99.3 | -0.7 pts | 68.5% | 28,434 |
| 11 | 2013 Inspect | 98.3 | -1.7 pts | 71.6% | 37,005 |
| 12 | 2012 Inspect | 97.8 | -2.2 pts | 69.1% | 28,476 |
Why 2011 and 2012 and 2013 rank lower
The 2011 cohort passes 68.5% of tests (-0.7 points versus same-age cars) at a median 76,824 miles, with brakes the leading failure system. The 2013 cohort passes 71.6% of tests (-1.7 points versus same-age cars) at a median 63,418 miles, with suspension the leading failure system. The 2012 cohort passes 69.1% of tests (-2.2 points versus same-age cars) at a median 68,921 miles, with brakes the leading failure system. This is population-level evidence, not a known-fault list: service history, engine version and the individual MOT record can outweigh the registration-year average.
What happened next on this model
Year rankings are age-adjusted pass rates. The figures below are a same-vehicle follow-up for certificate lines that appear often enough on this model (at least 200 cars). They are not a repair quote and they do not isolate a turbo, DSG, or clutch part.
- Ball joint has slight play — 907 cars · 11.8% failed the same item the next year · 12.5% were not tested again
- Track rod end ball joint has slight play — 344 cars · 8.4% failed the same item the next year · 14.5% were not tested again
- Linkage ball joints ball joint has slight play — 944 cars · 7.8% failed the same item the next year · 11.4% were not tested again
- Shock absorbers has light misting of oil — 911 cars · 7.8% failed the same item the next year · 7.1% were not tested again
- Rigid brake pipes corroded, covered in grease or other material — 5,315 cars · 7.5% failed the same item the next year · 7.9% were not tested again
National rankings for the not-retested gap: cars not tested again. Repair-hold rates: repairs that did not hold.
How to use this before buying
- Rankings describe the cohort, not the car. A cherished 2011 example beats a neglected 2015 one — always run the specific reg through the free MOT history check.
- Read the advisories. Repeated notes for the same component across years mean the owner has been ignoring it. Decode them in our advisory library.
- Fuel matters on this model. The diesel deficit (5.9 points) usually traces to DPF and emissions kit on low-mileage use — check for P2463-type soot codes on the test drive.
- Scan before you pay. A 2-minute OBD scan reveals stored faults the dashboard hides — see our scanner guide.
FAQs
Which I20 years should I avoid?
Based on 360,731 MOT tests adjusted against cars of the same age, 2011, 2012, 2013 are the lower-scoring outliers. That is a prompt for closer inspection, not proof that every car from those years is bad.
What is the best I20 year to buy used?
2015 and 2016 lead the age-adjusted MOT ranking. The score compares each registration year with all UK cars of the same age; the specific car's history and condition still take priority.
Is the I20 reliable overall?
Across 360,731 tests, the median age-adjusted index is 102.8 (100 equals the pass rate of all cars registered in the same year). Use the spread between years as one signal, then check the individual registration.
What data is required before a years-to-avoid guide is published?
We publish a guide only when a model has at least five registration-year cohorts old enough for a routine first MOT, each based on at least 1,500 Class 4 initial MOT tests pooled across the stated DVSA extract years, and at least 60,000 tests across those cohorts. From the models that pass those gates, this release includes the 220 models with the largest pooled samples. Retests are excluded.
How are the Strong and Inspect labels assigned?
Strong considers only the two highest-ranked registration-year cohorts and labels either one that is within 1.5 index points of the best. Inspect considers only the three lowest-ranked cohorts and labels a year only when its index is no higher than 100 and at least 2 points below the model median. Counts are MOT test records, not unique vehicles.
Methodology: index = 100 + the model-year cohort’s MOT pass-rate difference versus all UK vehicles registered in the same year and tested in the same calendar year. Pass rate uses DVSA result codes (P + PRS) ÷ (P + PRS + F): passes and passes after rectification at the test divided by those outcomes plus failures. Class 4 initial-test records only; retests excluded; at least 1,500 records per registration-year cohort. “Strong” considers the top two cohorts within 1.5 index points of the best. “Inspect” considers only the bottom three cohorts, then requires an index no higher than 100 and at least 2 points below the model median. Counts are test records, not unique vehicles. Association is not proof of a model-year defect. Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.