2009 Hyundai I20 1.2L Petrol · MA59 CWM

A persistent pattern of front brake disc wear has defined this Hyundai i20's recent MOT record, with the same advisory repeated at every test from 2024 through the most recent pass on 21 August 2026. The disc condition was not deemed serious enough to fail the vehicle on any of those occasions, but its recurrence across three consecutive tests indicates a component that has been steadily deteriorating rather than addressed. Compounding this, rear brake pads were flagged as wearing thin at both 2023 and 2024 tests, suggesting the braking system as a whole has been carrying an advisory load for some time. The single outright failure, on 12 September 2025, was caused by an obviously incorrect headlamp beam image on the nearside, a relatively isolated lighting issue rather than a systemic mechanical fault. A more serious failure occurred back on 8 September 2023, when both front tyres were deemed dangerous due to exposed ply or cords, alongside non-working front lighting items, though the vehicle subsequently passed clean tests in 2022 and 2021, showing it has not been in continuous decline. With 127,460 miles recorded against a 2009 manufacture date, the i20 has covered roughly 7,500 miles annually, which sits broadly in line with typical usage for a car of this age. There are no extended gaps between annual tests to suggest long periods off the road, and the mileage progression between consecutive tests is consistent with steady, ordinary use rather than any abrupt jumps or stagnation. At this accumulated mileage, wear on consumable items such as brake discs, pads, tyres, exhaust mounting rubbers, suspension bushes and engine mountings is to be expected, and the advisory history tallies with what one would anticipate for a higher-mileage small hatchback. The absence of any advisories relating to corrosion, suspension components, steering rack gaiters, drive shafts, or exhaust integrity through all eight recorded tests is a notable point, as corrosion-related failures become more common on vehicles of this vintage. Given the recurring front brake disc advisory now spanning three consecutive tests, a prospective buyer should treat the braking system as the primary mechanical priority. On a test drive, listen for any grinding, scraping or cyclical brake squeal that would suggest the disc surface has now worn beyond the advisory threshold, and feel for brake pedal pulsation or judder under firm application, which would indicate disc run-out or lipping severe enough to merit replacement. Inspect both front discs visually for a pronounced raised lip at the outer edge and for any blueing or scorching of the disc surface, and check pad material thickness directly through the caliper aperture. The 2025 failure for headlamp beam aim should also prompt a check that both headlamps produce a flat, slightly downward-stepping beam pattern on a level surface with the car loaded normally, as incorrect alignment can stem from worn suspension or from a simple adjustment that has drifted. The 2023 dangerous failure for exposed tyre cords on both fronts is worth keeping in mind as a historical caution rather than a current defect, but it does underscore the importance of inspecting the present tyres closely for tread depth, sidewall cracking, bulges or uneven shoulder wear, particularly on the rear pair which carried perishing advisories at both 2025 and 2026 tests. On the road, listen for any clonks or knocking from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, which would point to worn wishbone bushes or drop links given the mileage, and check for steering vagueness or a wandering sensation at motorway speeds that might indicate worn rack mounts or front tyre wear. Confirm that the rear brake pads, last flagged as wearing thin in 2024, have since been renewed by inspecting pad material through the caliper, and verify the rear tyre sidewalls show no fresh cracking. A thorough inspection underneath the vehicle on a ramp for any developing corrosion to subframe, brake pipes or suspension mounting points would also be prudent given the age and mileage, even though none has yet been recorded.