2009 Hyundai I20 1.2L Petrol · AV59 VMM

The 2009 Hyundai i20 presents a mixed maintenance picture with a recent clean pass but a history of significant mechanical neglect. The most recent test on 8 December 2023 at 135,373 miles returned a pass with zero defects, indicating the vehicle was brought up to standard for that inspection. However, this follows a failed test just two days prior on 6 December 2023 for excessive exhaust carbon monoxide, suggesting an emissions issue was hastily addressed. More concerning is the September 2023 failure at 135,371 miles, which revealed serious defects across multiple systems. The tester flagged a nearside front track rod end with excessive play, excessive free play in the steering rack, a worn upper anti-roll bar linkage ball joint, a split outer CV boot on the offside front, and a worn nearside front wheel bearing. Parking brake efficiency fell below 50 per cent of the required value. These are not minor cosmetic issues but fundamental steering, suspension, and braking defects that point to a period of deferred maintenance. The trend is therefore one of reactive rather than preventive upkeep, with the vehicle failing on critical safety items shortly before its clean pass. The mileage pattern raises questions about how the vehicle has been used. Between the October 2022 test at 127,037 miles and the September 2023 test at 135,371 miles, the car covered 8,334 miles in roughly eleven months, which is broadly consistent with its lifetime annual average of approximately 7,963 miles. The mileage then appears to have stopped entirely between September 2023 and the December 2023 tests, with no recorded increase across three separate inspections. This plateau suggests the vehicle may have stood unused for a period, which can cause its own problems including flat-spotted tyres, brake corrosion, and dried-out rubber components. The MOT record alone cannot confirm whether the mileage is fully accurate, and a buyer should verify this against service records and the physical condition of wear items. A buyer inspecting this i20 in person should focus on the front suspension and steering components that were flagged in September 2023. The nearside front track rod end, steering rack, anti-roll bar linkage, and wheel bearing all showed excessive wear, and there is no evidence in the record of any repair between that failure and the December pass. Check for play in the nearside front wheel by rocking it at the top and bottom, and listen for clonking from the front end over raised surfaces. Inspect the offside front CV boot for splits or grease loss, as this was noted as defective in September 2023 and again as a minor advisory in October 2022, suggesting a recurring issue. The parking brake efficiency was dangerously low at the September failure, so test the handbrake on a steep incline and check the rear brake condition for corrosion or seizure, particularly given the vehicle's possible period of standing. The exhaust emissions failure in December 2023 indicates a combustion or catalyst issue that may have been temporarily resolved rather than properly diagnosed. A buyer should check for smoke from the exhaust under hard acceleration and scan for stored engine fault codes. The repeated headlamp lens defects noted in October 2022 suggest long-standing lighting deterioration that may have been masked rather than corrected. Tyre wear was flagged on both front corners in September 2023, which is consistent with the worn suspension components and suggests the tracking may still be out. Overall, the record shows a vehicle that has had serious mechanical faults patched just enough to pass inspection rather than being systematically maintained. A pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic is strongly advised before committing to this purchase.