2018 Hyundai I20 1.2L Petrol · EO18 MVR

A late-period tyre compliance failure is the defining mechanical event in this Hyundai i20's MOT history, with the car presenting at test on 23 March 2026 with both front tyres measuring below the legal 1.6mm tread threshold at the inner and outer edges, a dangerous category defect that alone would have prohibited the vehicle from being driven away. A windscreen wiper non-compliance on the same attempt compounded the failure, though both items were rectified in time for a clean pass the following day. The overall trend is otherwise one of stable roadworthiness, with passes recorded on 25 March 2025 and 27 March 2024 free of advisories, indicating that the more recent tyre and wiper issues were acute rather than symptomatic of broader deterioration. The 2025 brake lever reserve travel major defect, flagged on the same date as that year's pass attempt, sits as an isolated hydraulic or adjustment concern rather than part of a recurring pattern, and its immediate resolution alongside the pass suggests it was correctly rectified. Against an age of approximately eight years, the recorded 66,140 miles equates to an annual accumulation of roughly 8,268 miles, placing this i20 firmly within typical usage parameters for its cohort rather than at either extreme of under- or over-use. There are no conspicuous gaps in the testing record that would imply a prolonged period off the road, and the consistent year-on-year attendance at MOT supports the view of a continuously used vehicle. Mechanically, this mileage profile means consumables such as brake pads, discs, tyres, and the clutch (where applicable) will have experienced a moderate but not excessive wear cycle, while suspension components, bushes, and anti-roll bar linkages will be approaching the age- and mileage-related threshold where original rubber items begin to harden, crack, or degrade. For a prospective buyer, attention should focus on the specific systems implicated by the recent failure. The dangerous tyre finding at both inner and outer edges, rather than across the full tread face, is consistent with either incorrect wheel alignment, worn suspension geometry allowing camber deviation, or simply uneven wear from rotation neglect, and a test drive should include a firm check for steering pull to either side, any tramline tracking on a motorway stretch, and a visual inspection of all four tyres for matching brand, age, and even wear pattern. The brake lever reserve travel issue from 2025 warrants careful pedal feel assessment: the lever should have firm, solid travel with the final third of its stroke remaining as reserve before the friction point, and any excessive softness, a sinking feeling under sustained pedal pressure, or a brake warning light illuminating during operation would indicate a master cylinder or hydraulic seal concern that has returned. Additionally, given the eight-year age, a physical inspection of the front suspension arms, anti-roll bar drop links, and lower ball joints for perished bushes or play is sensible, listening for clonks or knocks over speed humps and irregular road surfaces, alongside a check for any corrosion developing on the underbody, subframe, and rear brake flex hoses where age-related rubber deterioration commonly begins on vehicles of this generation. Finally, ensure that the replacement wipers fitted after the 2026 failure are of matching quality and that both front wiper blades clear the screen cleanly without smearing across the swept area, as a return defect on this item is easily preventable. Confirm that the tyres fitted at the most recent test are of reputable manufacturer, correctly sized to the i20 specification, and show no sidewall damage or bulges, and verify that a full-size spare or inflation kit is present and in serviceable condition. With the failed items addressed and a clean pass secured, this i20 presents as a mechanically straightforward small hatchback with no chronic defect history, though the tyre edge wear warrants the ongoing alignment monitoring noted above to prevent recurrence.