Hyundai i40 Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Hyundai i40 fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 37,479 MOT tests across 9 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: family car | Fuel: Diesel, Petrol
81%
Hyundai i40 pass rate
83%
Hyundai average
82%
All-model average
The Hyundai i40 has an average MOT pass rate of 81%, which is 2 points below the Hyundai average and 1 point below the average across all models in our data. Newer Hyundai i40s pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 10 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Hyundai i40 Fails Its MOT On
Of the 5,725 MOT tests on the Hyundai i40 that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
31%Cars and vans the same age: 36% · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
30%Cars and vans the same age: 21% (the i40 fails on this more often) · Typical repair £80-£450
Suspension
25%Cars and vans the same age: 33% (the i40 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £150-£600
Tyres
24%Cars and vans the same age: 23% · Typical repair £50-£300
Steering
18%Cars and vans the same age: 7.3% (the i40 fails on this more often) · Typical repair £100-£500
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play (13% of failed tests, steering)
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick (13% of failed tests, brakes)
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam (11% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Hyundai i40 Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each i40 year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
Passed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points more often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Hyundai i40 Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
Hyundai i40 Running Costs
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Hyundai i40 FAQ
What are the most common Hyundai i40 problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Hyundai i40 that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (31% of the 5,725 failed tests), brakes (30%) and suspension (25%). The single most common fault was "Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play" (13%). Across 37,479 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 81% ended in a pass.
Is the Hyundai i40 reliable?
The Hyundai i40 has an average MOT pass rate of 81%, from 37,479 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed within 2 points of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Hyundai i40 years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2014 (78% of 6,455 tests passed, against 82% for all 2014 cars), the 2011 (73% of 1,132 tests passed, against 77% for all 2011 cars) and the 2012 (76% of 5,795 tests passed, against 79% for all 2012 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Hyundai i40 faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Hyundai i40 typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Hyundai Models
Common problems pages for other Hyundai models