The Hyundai i30 was first revealed back in 2007 and is in continuous production ever since. The i30 is available either as a 2-door hatchback, a 5-door hatchback, a 5-door estate, or a 5-door liftback. It is a compact family car that tries to combine all the benefits you’d expect to get from a competitive hatchback at a price that is not going to break your bank.
Hyundai is also one of those brands known for making dependable and long-lasting cars that don’t cost too much money when it comes to running costs and repairs. Thankfully, the i30 is exactly such a car and that is why it manages to be so successful. In this article, we are going to discuss the most common problems with Hyundai i30.
These include issues with the car’s electrical systems and accessories, issues with trim and equipment, issues with the handbrake, issues with the car’s safety systems, and issues with the car’s transmission. All of these can be dealt with relatively easily which is indeed a good thing, but if you ignore these, they can become considerably worse over time.
All in all, the Hyundai i30 is a really good car as it truly does combine everything you’d want from a hatchback. Sure, it is not a particularly luxurious car, but that is to be expected considering the price.
Hyundai i30 – Electrical issues
Many Hyundai models are known to suffer from a variety of electrical issues and the i30 is no different. These include stuff like a failing radio system as it struggles to find a signal. Hyundai is going to fix your radio under warranty, but only if it’s up to three years old. The A/C is also a known failure point with the i30 as the condenser can fail relatively often.
Other issues include problematic exterior lighting, issues with the wipers, issues with the power windows, and potential issues with the locks. All in all, these issues are not going to affect the car’s usability, but they still are stressful.
Hyundai i30 – Equipment and trim issues
It seems like the i30 also tends to suffer from certain equipment and trim-related issues such as problems with the sunroof that refuses to either open or close itself. The only way to fix this efficiently is to replace the sunroof motor which isn’t all that affordable. Other equipment issues include potential problems with seatbelts.
Trim-related issues are associated with accelerated interior wear and tear, especially with the steering wheel that can peel itself off really quickly. Brightly colored interiors are known to discolor over time, especially if they are exposed to the sun often.
Hyundai i30 – Issues with the handbrake
Many Hyundai i30 owners keep on reporting that older i30 models often experience problems with the handbrake, more specifically, a handbrake that becomes stuck. Hyundai even recalled the i30 about 10 years ago because of this issue, but there are many models out there that still experience these problems.
It seems like the issue is associated with handbrake calipers that will need to be replaced. Otherwise, this issue is likely to persist.
Hyundai i30 – Issues with the car’s safety systems
The Hyundai i30 is not a particularly new car, nor it is a particularly luxurious car. This means that it does not get everything you’d find in something like a Mercedes or a BMW. However, you’d still be surprised as to how many safety systems are available with older i30 models. Even though that is indeed a good thing, many of these are problematic.
Owners have stated that the i30 tends to pull to either left or right and it seems like this issue is associated with the lane assist feature. This problem is further exacerbated by the fact that you can’t turn it off 100%.
Hyundai i30 – Transmission issues
The i30 is available as both a manual and an automatic depending on the engine, the equipment, and the market. Older i30 models with an automatic gearbox are known to be jittery, especially from a standstill. For some reason, diesel i30 models with an automatic are the worse of the lot, and the UK is the country with the highest number of diesel model transmission-related reports.
Hyundai likes to think that these are normal, but they rarely ever are. If your i30 is harsh or it sometimes takes way too much time to shift, you should take it to a dealership for an inspection. Issues such as these tend to be associated with a lack of transmission oil which is a known silent transmission killer.
FAQ Section
Should I buy a Hyundai i30?
If you want a small, practical, cheap-to-run, and relatively well-equipped family car, the i30 is indeed a really good choice. Most owners tend to say that the i30 is a breeze to live with as it is also really reliable and thus rarely experiences any serious problems. This means that if you take care of it, it is going to last you a long time.
On the other hand, if you are used to living with luxurious cars, the i30 is not a car for you. Even though it does get interesting features and pieces of equipment, that is not going to satisfy luxury car enthusiasts.
How long can a Hyundai i30 last?
It is almost impossible to predict how long any car can last as there are simply too many variables and factors that affect that. However, if you take care of the car and you do all the necessary maintenance services, you should be good for at least 200k miles.
Where you drive the car also plays a huge role as urban environments with bad road quality are known to accelerate a car’s demise.
Is Hyundai still making the i30?
Hyundai stopped offering the i30 for the North American market back in 2020. Hyundai decides to stop making the i30 and focus on the compact crossover and SUV segments as these are the ones most people are interested in buying.
However, the European markets still get the i30, and some other markets around the world where hatchbacks are still popular enough.
