Hyundai i10: common problems, best years and what to check
Roomy, reliable city car; a sensible first-car pick. Covers 2008–2024 cars: every popular engine, its known faults with typical UK repair costs, and how each year has held up on Britain's roads.
Updated November 2026 · By the Carnod team · How we build this guide
Is the Hyundai i10 a good used buy?
Best buy
2014+ i10 1.0/1.2 manual
Avoid
none notable
Who it suits: City drivers wanting a cheap, reliable small car with a long warranty.
What's good
- Five-year warranty transfers
- Reliable and cheap to run
- Grown-up for a city car
- Comfortable for its size
What's not
- Slow on motorways
- Basic early PA interior
- Small boot
- 2020 car scored three NCAP stars
By the numbers
- #24 most common model on UK roads, with about 269k licensed (DfT).
- The biggest surviving year is 2017: 23.6k cars still licensed.
- 2008 cars survive 56% better than comparable cars of that year.
- The most expensive common fault: Rust on rear arches (up to £400).
Hyundai i10 common problems by generation and engine
Hyundai i10 PA (2008–2013) · city car
How to spot it: 08 plate to 13 plate. Tall, rounded city car.
1.1 / 1.2 (Epsilon / Kappa, petrol, 2008–2013)
Durable
Faults on any PA (2008–2013) engine
- Rust on rear arches£150–£40010+ yrs
Hyundai i10 IA (2014–2019) · city car
How to spot it: 14 plate to 19 plate. Longer and lower with a hexagonal grille and LED daytime lights on higher trims.
1.0 / 1.2 (Kappa, petrol, 2014–2019)
Reliable; warranty may remain
Hyundai i10 AC3 (2020–) · city car
How to spot it: 20 plate onwards. Wide, squat look with round LED daytime lights in a honeycomb grille.
1.0 / 1.2 MPi (Kappa, petrol, 2020–)
Reliable
Costs are typical UK independent-garage prices including parts and labour. Main dealers usually charge more.
Best and worst Hyundai i10 years
How many Hyundai i10s from each year are still licensed today (DfT), coloured by how well that year survives compared with similar cars of the same age.
Years that outlast similar cars: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018. No year falls off the road noticeably faster than similar cars.
Hyundai i10 MOT pass rate and common failures
First-time pass rate (2025)
Average UK car of the same age
MOT tests analysed (2008+ cars)
Hyundai i10s pass their MOT first time 1 points more often than the average UK car of the same age (73% vs 71%). Older cars fail more, so we compare like with like.
| First registered | Pass rate | Average UK car that age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 56% | 57% | 73k miles |
| 2009 | 59% | 58% | 67k miles |
| 2010 | 62% | 59% | 66k miles |
| 2011 | 64% | 61% | 62k miles |
| 2012 | 63% | 63% | 58k miles |
| 2013 | 63% | 66% | 53k miles |
| 2014 | 71% | 69% | 53k miles |
| 2015 | 76% | 72% | 48k miles |
| 2016 | 80% | 75% | 42k miles |
| 2017 | 81% | 78% | 40k miles |
| 2018 | 80% | 81% | 34k miles |
| 2019 | 82% | 84% | 29k miles |
| 2020 | 87% | 86% | 22k miles |
| 2021 | 85% | 87% | 19k miles |
| 2022 | 84% | 89% | 15k miles |
Most common MOT failures
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively4.2 per 100
- Position lamp: not working3.71 per 100
- Stop lamp: not working3.46 per 100
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.36 per 100
- Ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.06 per 100
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.99 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.98 per 100
- Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.63 per 100
Most common advisories
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.43 per 100
- Tyres: has a tear18.89 per 100
- Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened13.6 per 100
- Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded11.03 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.03 per 100
- Coil spring: corroded6.87 per 100
- Service brake performance: excessively binding4.1 per 100
- Brake discs: significantly and obviously worn3.29 per 100
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results for 2025 (normal car tests). First-time pass counts faults fixed during the test as fails. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Does the Hyundai i10 have a timing belt or chain?
| Engine | Type | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kappa 1.0/1.2 | chain | durable | £400–£700 |
Hyundai i10 running costs
Road tax (from April 2017)
Road tax (before April 2017)
Insurance groups
Real-world economy
Servicing (independent)
Tyres
Warranty when new
Is the Hyundai i10 ULEZ compliant?
- Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001.
- Electric: always compliant.
- Same standards apply in Birmingham and Bristol Clean Air Zones (which charge private cars) and Scotland's LEZs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee (which fine them). Check the exact car on TfL's vehicle checker.
Safety and practicality
Euro NCAP
Boot
Seats
Electric / hybrid
Hyundai i10 vs rivals
| Model | On UK roads | Insurance | Boot | Best buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai i10 | 269k | 1–7 | 252 l | 2014+ i10 1.0/1.2 manual |
| Kia Picanto | 199k | 1–9 | 255 l | 2017+ JA 1.0/1.25 manual |
| Toyota Aygo | 279k | 2–8 | 168 l | 2014–2022 Mk2 1.0 manual |
| Volkswagen up! | 130k | 1–10 | 251 l | 1.0 MPI 75 manual or up! GTI |
| Fiat Panda | 70k | 1–9 | 225 l | Mk3 1.2 or 4x4 |
| Suzuki Ignis | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
What to check when buying a used Hyundai i10
- Check transferable 5-year warranty
- Simple and cheap to run
Hyundai i10 FAQ
›Is the Hyundai i10 reliable?
Generally, if you pick the right version. Best buy: 2014+ i10 1.0/1.2 manual. Avoid: none notable.
›What is the Hyundai i10 MOT pass rate?
73% of Hyundai i10s passed their MOT first time in 2025 (222,920 tests), better than the 71% average for cars of the same age. The most common failure: wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively.
›What are the most common Hyundai i10 problems?
The costliest known faults are . Each one is listed by engine with typical UK repair costs above.
›Does the Hyundai i10 have a timing belt or chain?
Kappa 1.0/1.2: chain.
›What is the best year Hyundai i10 to buy?
By DfT survival data, 2008, 2009, 2010 cars have outlasted comparable cars best. Condition and history still matter more than the year.
›How much does a Hyundai i10 cost to run?
Real-world economy: 1.0/1.2 48–56 mpg. Insurance groups 1–7. A minor service is about £120–£180 at an independent garage.
›How much is road tax on a Hyundai i10?
Cars registered from April 2017 pay £200 a year (more if the list price was over £40k). Older cars pay by CO2 band, from £20 to £790.
›Is the Hyundai i10 ULEZ compliant?
Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001.
How we build this guide
We combine official UK data with what independent garages see most often on this model.
- How many are still on the road: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, by year first used. The survival comparison is against cars of the same age.
- MOT pass rates, failures and mileage: DVSA anonymised MOT results — every normal car MOT in Great Britain for the year, compared with all cars of the same age.
- Road tax: GOV.UK rates from April 2026. ULEZ: TfL and Clean Air Zone emission standards.
- Faults and repair costs: known problems by engine code, priced at typical UK independent-garage rates including parts and labour.
- Insurance groups, mpg, servicing and tyres: typical ranges, not quotes. Your car's exact figures depend on the version and where you live.
This is a buying guide, not a mechanical inspection. A specific car's MOT history tells you far more than any model average — run a free check on it before you go and see it.
Sources: licensed counts and survival from DfT vehicle licensing statistics; road tax from GOV.UK (April 2026 rates). Faults, costs, mpg and insurance groups are typical ranges, not quotes. A guide, not a mechanical inspection.