2016 Hyundai I20 1.2L Petrol · SH66 SZX

This 2016 Hyundai I20 presents a mixed maintenance profile. The most recent test, a pass recorded on 19 November 2025 at 77,262 miles, is now seven months old and remains valid until November 2026. While the car passed that day, the tester flagged both front suspension arm ball joint dust covers as severely deteriorated, a recurring issue that also appeared in the failed test the previous day. Both front tyres were worn close to the legal limit on the edge, and the windscreen was damaged, though not affecting the driver's view. The overall trend is one of gradual deterioration rather than consistent upkeep. The vehicle has moved from a pattern of resolving minor advisories to carrying suspension and tyre wear items forward across consecutive tests without clear evidence of lasting repair. The mileage progression tells a story of two distinct usage phases. Between the November 2023 pass at 49,815 miles and the November 2024 test at 66,590 miles, the car covered roughly 16,775 miles in a single year, well above the typical annual average for its age. Then, in the twelve months from November 2024 to November 2025, the odometer moved only from 66,590 to 77,262, a gain of approximately 10,672 miles. This suggests a shift from heavier use to lighter, possibly local, running. The 2024 failure at 66,590 miles revealed a malfunctioning engine MIL, a non-functioning tyre pressure monitoring system, a failed offside rear position lamp and stop lamp, multiple tyres at or below legal tread depth, and an oil leak. Several of these items, particularly the TPMS fault and the oil leak, were not explicitly re-tested in 2025, so their current status remains unknown. A buyer should focus their physical inspection on the front suspension and braking system. The repeated failure of both front suspension arm ball joint dust covers across the 2024 and 2025 tests indicates these components have been exposed to road debris and moisture for an extended period. Excessive play in the ball joints themselves should be checked, along with any knocking or clunking over speed bumps. The rear brake disc was worn and pitted in the November 2025 failure, and the offside rear brake pad was below 1.5 millimetres, meaning the rear braking assembly likely needs attention soon. Both rear tyres also showed underinflation and a nail puncture in 2025, so sidewall integrity and slow leaks deserve scrutiny. Beyond the mechanical items flagged in the record, the windscreen damage noted in both November 2025 tests warrants a close look, as stone chips or cracks can spread and eventually fail a future MOT. The oil leak identified in November 2024 was not severe enough to fail that test, but any recurrence or worsening around the engine block or sump should be investigated. Given the inconsistent fault resolution across tests, a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic is strongly advisable before committing to this vehicle.