2009 Hyundai I10 1.1L Petrol · WN59 BNF

A 17-year-old Hyundai i10 carrying 111,142 miles presents a mixed mechanical picture, with a recent clean pass on 4 December 2025 but a documented history that includes two failures and a cluster of recurring advisories centred on suspension corrosion, oil leakage, and minor lighting defects. The 2023-12-07 test recorded rear axle imbalance under brakes, a nearside front headlamp aim defect, and a failed position lamp, indicating that braking performance and lighting function have historically required attention rather than being incidentally clean. By the time of the 2025 test, no fresh defects were recorded, though the 2024-12-11 pass still carried advisories for a corroded sump with an oil leak and a minor front exhaust gas leak, both of which represent ongoing deterioration rather than one-off events. The pattern across the five recorded tests is broadly stable in terms of roadworthiness outcomes but shows chronic themes that have yet to be fully resolved. Mileage accumulation averages approximately 6,500 miles per year over the recorded life of the vehicle, which is broadly typical for a car of this age and class, and the gaps between tests are relatively short with no extended periods off the road. This continuity of use means the suspension, braking, and exhaust components flagged in advisories have continued to accumulate wear rather than being allowed to deteriorate through standing, but equally the consistent annual mileage suggests normal mechanical loading without the accelerated wear that very high-mileage urban use can produce. The mileage progression between tests, where discernible, does not indicate any large jumps that would suggest towing or commercial usage, and the recorded figures align with what would be expected for a small city car in regular service. Overall, the mileage profile is unremarkable, leaving the recurring advisories as the more significant indicator of mechanical condition. For a prospective buyer, the most relevant items to investigate in person are the rear coil springs noted as corroded in the 2022-01-27 advisories, the sump corrosion and oil leak recorded in 2024, and the front exhaust gas leak also flagged in 2024. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the rear suspension over uneven surfaces, which would indicate advanced spring or bush deterioration beyond surface corrosion, and visually inspect the rear spring seats and lower spring coils for flaking metal or loss of section thickness. Under the bonnet, look for fresh oil residue around the sump plug and along the lower engine block, checking whether the weep has progressed since the advisory was issued, and run the engine from cold to listen for any change in exhaust note that might suggest the joint or flexi section identified in 2024 has worsened into a more significant leak. The braking system requires particular scrutiny given the 2023 major failure for rear brake imbalance across axle two, which suggests that one of the rear calipers or adjusters may have been binding or that the rear shoes or pads had worn unevenly. On a test drive, apply the brakes firmly from around 30 mph and check for any pull to one side, a soft or spongy pedal, or judder through the pedal, any of which would indicate that the original imbalance has either returned or was not fully rectified. The nearside front headlamp aim defect and repeated position lamp failures also warrant a pre-purchase check with the vehicle on level ground in subdued light, confirming all bulbs illuminate correctly and that the beam pattern sits below the horizontal cut-off rather than dazzling oncoming traffic. Finally, inspect the nearside front tyre for any sidewall cuts or bulges, given the 2024 deep-cut defect, and check the tread depth across both front tyres, as the 2021 advisories noted inner and outer edge wear that can point to worn suspension bushes or incorrect tracking on the front axle.