Hyundai i10
Hyundai's tiniest diesel — three cylinders, barely any power reserve, and a sound that takes getting used to. Cheap to run though.
City runabout, nothing more
The i10 does city traffic and nothing else. Looking for thrills? Wrong car.
Engine Weaknesses 5
Small diesel 1.4 CRDi with mandatory DPF: short trips prevent regeneration. Engine designed for motorway use; unsuitable as a city car due to frequent DPF problems.
Symptoms: DPF warning light, engine limp mode, power loss, increased fuel consumption.
The small turbo of the D3FA runs at very high speeds and is prone to bearing wear with irregular oil changes. Turbo failures on the 1.1L are economically problematic given the engine size vs. repair cost ratio.
Symptoms: Whistling or rattling turbo noise; oil consumption from turbo; power loss; blue smoke plume.
Common-rail injectors in the D3FA wear prematurely due to sulphur-rich fuel and high pressures. Repair costs are disproportionately high relative to vehicle value.
Symptoms: Rough idle; cold start problems; increased fuel consumption; black smoke on acceleration.
The small three-cylinder diesel D3FA is sensitive to coolant loss and can overheat quickly if the thermostat fails. Cylinder head damage is the costly consequence.
Symptoms: Temperature gauge rises into the red; coolant smell; engine power drops; white smoke possible.
The 1.1L three-cylinder diesel D3FA is heavily prone to EGR fouling, especially during short-trip operation. Hyundai has carried out recall campaigns on related CRDi engines for EGR problems.
Symptoms: Check engine light; limp mode; poor throttle response; rough part-throttle running.
Vehicle Weaknesses 12
The EPS unit can become stiff at higher mileages or the warning light may illuminate. Early PA examples are mainly affected from 80,000 km onwards.
MOT reports show recurring defects on older i10 PA models for both foot brake and handbrake, and the brake system generally, especially from the fourth inspection onwards.
From around 8–10 years of age the i10 PA develops rust blisters at the rear wheel arches and along the sills. The lower door edges and flanges are particularly affected when the cavity seal is missing or damaged.
Some i10 PA models show problems with self-discharging batteries. The cause can be a fault in the immobilizer or interior lighting that fails to turn off.
The manual gearbox clutch tends to judder and wears out comparatively early. Reverse gear is stiff to engage when cold.
After standing for 2–3 days, especially in damp conditions, the i10 PA brake discs rust over. On pull-away, the pads release with a loud bang — this is a known Hyundai phenomenon across several generations.
The front strut top mounts on the i10 PA wear from around 100,000 km. They produce clicking and creaking noises when turning. Replacement is inexpensive but should not be put off too long.
On the i10 PA the rear screen washer system can fail — either the pump delivers no water to the rear screen, or the rear wiper motor operates intermittently. The wiper arms are also prone to corrosion.
Foot brake and parking brake rank among the most frequent defect causes according to MOT reports. Brake discs and pads wear above average; brake lines corrode.
Electric power steering causes problems more often than average according to inspection reports. EPS warning light illuminates, steering feels heavy, especially at low speed and when parking.
Inspection reports note a 2.5× elevated defect rate on the front axle from as early as three years. Anti-roll bar links and wheel bearings wear prematurely and cause knocking noises.
Headlight adjustment and bulb failures are common defect causes according to inspection reports. Headlight aim adjusts itself uncontrollably, rear lights fail.
Reports & Tests
615 owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2008–2013). Most reported: Brakes (130), Airbags (109), Engine (95).