2009 Hyundai I20 1.2L Petrol · MT09 WHH

The 2009 Hyundai i20 passed its most recent MOT on 1 April 2026 at 125,650 miles, and the overall maintenance trend points to a vehicle that is ageing honestly rather than deteriorating rapidly. The current certificate carries two minor advisories: a corroded front brake pipe contaminated with grease or other material on both sides, and a deteriorated front registration plate. Neither defect was serious enough to fail the test, but the brake pipe advisory confirms that corrosion is an active concern on the underside. The vehicle has not been hammered with major structural failures in recent years, yet the pattern of recurring brake and suspension faults suggests the car has lived a real-world life without meticulous preventative maintenance. The mileage progression is broadly consistent with typical use for a 17-year-old supermini. Between the clean pass on 15 July 2023 at 110,005 miles and the April 2026 test at 125,650 miles, the car covered roughly 15,645 miles in just under three years, averaging around 5,200 miles per year during that window. That is slightly below the lifetime average of approximately 7,391 miles per year, which may indicate lighter recent use or periods of limited activity. The jump from the March 2025 failure at 120,972 miles to the April 2026 pass at 125,650 miles represents 4,678 miles in just over a year, showing the car remained in active service throughout. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the areas the MOT record has repeatedly flagged. The 2023 failure at 110,003 miles identified excessively corroded brake pipes on all four corners, corroded rear brake hose ferrules, worn front brake pads, and a significantly worn offside front brake disc. The 2025 failure at 120,972 miles then highlighted a worn nearside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint and a parking brake that only just met efficiency requirements, along with front brake imbalance. The 2026 advisory on corroded front brake pipes confirms this is a persistent issue rather than a one-off repair. Inspect the underside thoroughly for fresh pipe replacements, check whether the rear brake lines were properly addressed after the 2023 failure, and verify the condition of all flexible hoses and ferrules for pitting or weeping. Suspension bushes, ball joints, and anti-roll bar links on the front axle deserve close attention given the 2025 advisory. Tyre wear has also been a recurring theme. Both the March 2025 failure and the April 2025 pass flagged front tyres worn close to the legal limit or worn on edge, and the offside rear tyre showed cracking or perishing. This pattern suggests possible alignment issues or simply deferred replacement. Check the current tyres for uneven wear across all four wheels and confirm the tracking has been set correctly. The windscreen washer defect that appeared in both 2023 and 2025 may seem trivial, but it hints at minor electrical or maintenance neglect that could extend to other overlooked items. A compression test and a careful look at the exhaust for blowing joints or catalytic converter condition would round out the assessment, particularly given the car's age and the likelihood of original components still in service.