The picture
I20: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 148,123 MOT tests, the I20 returns 77.3% first-time pass — roughly in line with the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a number-plate lamp out. A torn suspension dust cover and a lamp out round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 57,135, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
4,949 occurrences · 3.3% of tests
- 02
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
4,689 occurrences · 3.2% of tests
- 03
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
3,517 occurrences · 2.4% of tests
- 04
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
3,411 occurrences · 2.3% of tests
- 05
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
3,158 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 06
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
2,918 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 07
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
2,823 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 08
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
2,452 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 09
Wiper blade defective
2,448 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 10
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
2,389 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 4 failures
£208–£605
If every one of this I20's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
Try the calculator
Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Buying or keeping a I20?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a I20 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.