2012 Hyundai I10 1.2L Petrol · YF12 DHM

The Hyundai i10 holds a valid MOT certificate issued on 10 March 2026 at 81,131 miles, with only a minor advisory for a deteriorated rear registration plate. The maintenance trend over the past two years is clearly worsening. In the February 2026 failure at 81,050 miles, the tester flagged dense blue exhaust smoke at idle and under acceleration, an inoperative engine MIL, excessive wear on both front anti-roll bar linkage ball joints, a corroded nearside rear brake pipe, and slight play in two wheel bearings. Several of these faults, particularly the anti-roll bar linkage and track rod end play, had already appeared as advisories in the February 2025 test at 74,963 miles but have since deteriorated into outright failures. The car went from a clean pass in February 2024 at 63,957 miles to a pattern of escalating mechanical and emissions faults within two years. The mileage profile is notably low for a 2012 vehicle, averaging roughly 5,795 miles per year. Between the February 2025 test at 74,963 miles and the February 2026 failure at 81,050 miles, the car covered approximately 6,087 miles in twelve months, which is consistent with the long-term average. There are no suspicious gaps or sudden jumps in the odometer record, suggesting genuine low-mileage use rather than a rolled-back reading. However, low annual mileage does not eliminate the risk of deterioration from age, particularly for rubber components, brake lines, and exhaust systems, all of which feature prominently in the recent failure record. A buyer should treat the February 2026 failure sheet as the primary diagnostic reference. The dense blue smoke at idle and under acceleration points to worn valve stem seals, piston rings, or a failing turbocharger if the engine is turbocharged, and the inoperative engine MIL raises the possibility the fault was deliberately masked. The corroded nearside rear brake pipe, covered in grease or other material, suggests concealed corrosion that warrants a thorough inspection of the entire braking system. Suspension components, including both front anti-roll bar linkage ball joints and the offside front track rod end, have progressed from slight play to excessive play within twelve months, indicating the front end requires immediate attention. The rear beam axle was noted as corroded but not seriously weakened in February 2026, yet this should be rechecked given the car's age and the presence of corrosion elsewhere. Tyre wear on the inner edges of both front tyres, flagged in both 2025 tests, suggests tracking or suspension geometry issues that remain unresolved. A pre-purchase inspection should focus on a compression test, a thorough underside examination for corrosion, and a detailed suspension and steering assessment before any commitment.