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Hyundai I40 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Hyundai I40 car check

Is the Hyundai I40 reliable? We analysed 267,133 real MOT tests across 28,541 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 267,133 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
79.5%
Typical Mileage
72,597mi
Annual Mileage
8,118mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
15yrs

The Hyundai I40 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Hyundai I40.

Hyundai I40 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Hyundai I40. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Hyundai I40 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Hyundai I40 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

86.2%
2019
85.2%
2018
86.3%
2017
84%
2016
81.4%
2015
78.6%
2014
76.5%
2013
76.2%
2012
75.6%
2011

Hyundai I40 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Hyundai I40 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 2,182

Hyundai I40 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Hyundai I40 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 4,683
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 1,737
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 1,584
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 1,237

Hyundai I40 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Hyundai I40 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
5,167 mi/yr
Typical
8,118 mi/yr
Average
10,151 mi/yr
Heavy usage
12,326 mi/yr

Hyundai I40 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Hyundai I40 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2019 2,424 86.2% 31,448 51,149 75,533
2018 7,918 85.2% 37,998 59,196 88,016
2017 21,415 86.3% 40,224 59,364 85,458
2016 32,821 84.0% 44,228 65,092 93,149
2015 39,691 81.4% 46,861 68,534 96,553
2014 48,072 78.6% 48,836 72,869 101,986
2013 44,736 76.5% 53,170 79,436 108,550
2012 57,608 76.2% 53,714 80,507 109,731
2011 11,286 75.6% 54,163 82,957 112,906

How Long Does a Hyundai I40 Last?

Based on 28,541 Hyundai I40 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
8.8 years
Median
9.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
15 years

Hyundai I40 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Hyundai I40 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
72,597 mi
75th Percentile
102,300 mi
95th Percentile
154,230 mi
Max Recorded
1,014,030 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Hyundai I40

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2017

86.3% MOT pass rate from 21,415 tests

Year to avoid
2011

75.6% MOT pass rate from 11,286 tests

The best year to buy a used Hyundai I40 is 2017, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.3% across 21,415 tests. The 2011 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Hyundai I40 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Hyundai I40 THIS CAR 79.5% 267,133 72,597 mi 15 yrs
Hyundai I10 80.4% 2,829,935 35,978 mi 18 yrs
Hyundai I20 80.2% 1,488,641 45,118 mi 17 yrs
Hyundai I30 76.5% 1,479,391 57,858 mi 19 yrs
Daewoo Nubira 64.4% 130,499 61,516 mi 29 yrs

Compared to the Hyundai I10 (80.4% pass rate) and the Hyundai I20 (80.2% pass rate), the Hyundai I40 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Hyundai I40?

The Hyundai I40 has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.5% across 267,133 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common failure point is brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick with 2,182 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Hyundai I40 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Hyundai I40 owner drives around 8,118 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Hyundai I40 models stay on UK roads for around 15 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Hyundai I40 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Hyundai I40 reliable?
Based on 267,133 MOT tests, the Hyundai I40 has a 79.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Hyundai I40?
The most common failure point is brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick.
How many miles does a Hyundai I40 do per year?
The typical Hyundai I40 does around 8,118 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Hyundai I40 last?
Most Hyundai I40 models stay on UK roads for around 15 years based on our analysis of 28,541 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Hyundai I40?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Hyundai I40?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Hyundai I40 is 2017 with a 86.3% pass rate across 21,415 tests.