2012 Hyundai I20 1.2L Petrol · NU62 ABF

This 2012 Hyundai i20 presents a mixed maintenance picture. The most recent MOT, conducted on 26 August 2025 at 64,938 miles, passed, but only after a failure on the same day at 64,937 miles for a damaged and seriously weakened offside front anti-roll bar linkage. That defect points to a component that had deteriorated to the point of structural compromise, yet was replaced or repaired within hours. The pass is valid, but the failure on the same day suggests the car was presented in poor mechanical condition initially. The trend is not clearly improving; it shows a reactive rather than preventative approach to maintenance. The mileage pattern is unusual and warrants scrutiny. Between the September 2023 test at 64,353 miles and the August 2025 test at 64,938 miles, the car covered just 585 miles over nearly two full years. That is an average of roughly 293 miles per year in that window, far below the already low lifetime average of approximately 4,638 miles per year. Such minimal use raises the possibility of long periods of inactivity, which can cause tyre perishing, brake disc corrosion, and dried-out rubber bushes. The 2023 failure supports this, with all four tyres flagged for sidewall cracking and perishing, and both rear tyres worn to the legal limit despite the low mileage. Tyres do not wear from standing still; they age. The 2023 advisories confirm the car was sitting unused for extended stretches. A buyer should inspect the front suspension closely. The recurring advisory for a worn offside front lower suspension arm pin or bush, noted in both the failed and passed August 2025 tests, indicates a component that has not been replaced despite being flagged. Excessive play in this bush can cause vague steering and uneven tyre wear over time. The anti-roll bar linkage failure on the same side reinforces that the front end has been neglected. Check for knocking over speed bumps and uneven inner tyre wear as signs of continued deterioration. The tyre history also demands attention. The 2023 failure identified all four tyres as perished and the rear pair worn to the legal limit. If the same tyres remain on the car, they are now over three years past that advisory and well beyond their safe service life, regardless of remaining tread depth. Budget for a full set of quality replacements. Inspect the brake discs and calipers for surface corrosion from standing, and check the exhaust system for moisture-induced corrosion in the silencer. Low-mileage cars often suffer more from neglect than from wear, and this record suggests the previous owner allowed basic upkeep to lapse.