2017 Hyundai I30 1.6L Diesel · EN17 FTP

A recurring theme of brake-related defects runs through the MOT history of this 2017 Hyundai i30, with binding calipers, worn brake pads and scored brake discs appearing across multiple tests, making the braking system the most relevant area for any prospective buyer to scrutinise. The most recent test on 13 August 2026 recorded a pass alongside advisories for pitted front brake discs and both rear trail arm bushes showing wear, but a separate failed test on the same date flagged an offside front tyre cut exposing the ply or cords, a non-functioning windscreen washer, and a nearside front tyre worn on its edge. Looking further back, the September 2025 test included a major failure for a malfunctioning tyre pressure monitoring system, an ineffective nearside front wiper, advisories for long handbrake travel, scored rear brake discs on both inner and outer faces, and front service brake binding on both sides. The 2023 test recorded the most serious brake finding, with a dangerous nearside rear brake pad thickness below 1.5 mm alongside an excessively binding nearside rear service brake. This pattern of rear brake binding across three separate tests from 2022 through 2025 suggests a persistent caliper or slide mechanism issue that warrants close attention. With approximately 47,550 miles recorded over nine years, annual mileage averages around 5,283 miles, which is below the typical accumulation for a vehicle of this age. This relatively modest mileage reduces wear on high-mileage components such as the clutch, engine internals and drivetrain, but it can also mean extended periods of stationary use, which has its own implications. The tyres, suspension bushes and brake components flagged in the advisories can deteriorate through age-related rubber degradation and corrosion as readily as through distance covered, and the recurring advisories on tyre cracking and perishing from 2022, 2023 and 2024 align with age-related rubber deterioration rather than heavy use. Mileage consistency between tests cannot be verified from the records provided, but the gap-free annual testing suggests the vehicle has remained in regular road use throughout the recorded period. For a prospective buyer, the priority mechanical checks should centre on the rear braking system. On a test drive, listen for any grinding or squealing from the rear wheels, particularly when first applying the brakes from cold, and feel for any judder through the brake pedal which would indicate the scored discs noted in the advisories. Confirm the handbrake holds firmly on a slope, as the long travel advisory from that 2025 test suggests potential rear caliper issues or stretched cables. Inspect the rear brake pads through the wheel spokes or by removing the wheels to check remaining friction material, given the dangerous pad wear recorded in 2023 and the wearing thin advisory in 2022. The front brake discs should be examined for lipping and visible pitting, and on the road any pulling to one side under braking would indicate uneven pad or disc wear consistent with the binding advisories. Suspension and tyre condition deserve equally close inspection given the recurring advisories on this Hyundai. The rear trail arm bushes on both sides were flagged as worn in the 2026 advisories, so on a test drive listen for any knocking or clonking from the rear suspension over uneven road surfaces, and feel for any vagueness or wandering in the rear end during direction changes. Examine all four tyres for uneven inner edge wear, which was noted on the front pair in 2024 and on the nearside front in 2026, as this typically points to worn suspension components or alignment issues. The offside lower sill damage flagged as an advisory in the 2026 test should be physically inspected to confirm it is cosmetic rather than structural corrosion affecting the sill integrity. Finally, verify the tyre pressure monitoring system is functioning correctly, the windscreen washers operate properly on both sides, and the wipers clear the screen effectively, as all three items have been flagged as defects within the past twelve months.