Hyundai i30 Common Problems

The i30 is Hyundai's small hatch and one of the most common used cars in Australia. Three hatch generations turn up for sale: the FD (2007 to 2012) with a 2.0 Beta II petrol or 1.6 CRDi diesel and a 4-speed auto; the GD (2012 to 2016) with a 1.8 Nu MPi (G4NB), a 2.0 Nu GDi (G4NC) in the SR and a 1.6 CRDi, plus a 7-speed dual-clutch for the diesel from 2015; and the PD (2017 on) with a 2.0 GDi (G4NC), a 1.6 T-GDi (G4FJ) in the SR and N Line, a 1.6 CRDi and the 2.0 turbo i30 N. From 2020 the i30 Sedan (CN7) adds a 2.0 MPi. The i30 is cheap to run and well built, but several of its petrol engines have a real oil-burning record.

Oil burning and piston slap (2.0 GDi G4NC, GD SR and PD, 2013 to 2022)

This is the fault that matters most on the busiest years. Symptoms are oil use of more than a litre per 1,000 km, a low oil warning between services, and a knocking or tapping noise that is loudest from cold. The cause is scoring of the cylinder bores, where the piston skirts rub the walls and oil gets past the rings. Owners of 2017, 2018 and 2019 cars report losing litres between services. Hyundai dealers confirm it with a sealed-dipstick oil consumption test over 1,000 km, and the fix is a rebuilt or replacement engine. Hyundai has replaced engines under warranty, and some owners of older cars with a full service history report help with the cost. A class action has been filed in the Federal Court alleging these engines are defective; check its current status. Out of warranty, a replacement engine is a bill of many thousands of dollars.

Engine knock and oil use (1.8 MPi, 1.6 GDi and 1.6 T-GDi, 2012 to 2022)

The same class action also lists the GD's 1.8 Nu MPi (G4NB) and 1.6 GDi (G4FD), and the PD's 1.6 T-GDi (G4FJ) used in the SR and N Line. Reports are fewer than for the 2.0 GDi, but the symptoms are the same: rising oil use, cold-start tapping and, in bad cases, engine failure. Treat any of these engines with a low dipstick or a noisy cold start as suspect, and ask for proof of oil changes on time.

Dual-clutch shudder at take-off (7-speed DCT, 1.6T and 1.6 CRDi, 2015 to 2023)

The 7-speed dry dual-clutch is fitted to the GD Series II diesel, the PD diesel and 1.6 turbo, and the i30 Sedan N Line. Used-car guides flag shudder when pulling away, jerky creeping in traffic and hesitation on hill starts as signs of clutch wear. Ask a dealer whether a transmission software update applies, and note that a batch of 2023 1.6T sedans was recalled for incorrect DCT software. If software does not cure it, the clutch pack needs replacing, roughly $2,500 to $5,000 out of warranty as a rough guide. Not every DCT car is affected, so a test drive tells you more than the badge.

Steering column knock (FD and GD, 2007 to 2016)

A click or clunk through the steering wheel when turning, most obvious when parked, is common on the FD and early GD. A Hyundai service bulletin blames the flexible rubber coupling in the electric power steering motor, which perishes with age. A revised coupling fixes it and Hyundai says steering performance is not affected. It is a cheap part, so expect a bill of roughly a few hundred dollars fitted. Some owners of early FD cars also report a steering rack rattle over bumps that needed a new rack.

Harsh automatic shifts (4-speed auto, FD, 2007 to 2012)

Thumping or harsh gear changes on FD automatics are linked to a defective valve body, and Hyundai developed a revised part. One used-car guide puts a replacement valve body at roughly $2,000 or more fitted. A brief judder at start-up can be the normal ABS and stability control self-test, so do not confuse the two. A fluid change on an old unit will not fix a faulty valve body.

Glow plug fuse and relay failure (1.6 CRDi, FD, 2007 to 2012)

FD diesels can become hard to start from cold when the 80 amp glow plug fuse blows or the glow plug relay fails, often with fault code P0670. Repairers report that a plate touching the engine block can blow the fuse. The parts are cheap, but the fault is often misdiagnosed as worn glow plugs or injectors.

Recalls and safety

The FD has the longest list. Its airbag control unit was reprogrammed under a 2019 recall covering cars sold from 2007 to 2012, because the airbags could switch off or deploy without a crash. FD cars built from late 2006 to late 2010 were recalled because the ABS module could short circuit and start a fire, and a small number of 2010 to 2011 cars had a driver's airbag inflator that could rupture. Other FD campaigns covered a steering joint bolt, loss of power steering assist and a cracked stability control casing. PD hatches have had recalls for sunroof motor software and, on 2020 to 2021 cars, the fuel pump impeller. The i30 N and Sedan N have had fuel pump and dual-clutch software recalls, and the 2020 to 2022 i30 Sedan had a seatbelt pretensioner recall. Have a Hyundai dealer check the VIN for open recalls and see our recalls page.

Buying a used Hyundai i30? What to check

• Oil level: Pull the dipstick before the test drive. A low level on a car that was recently serviced is a warning sign on the 2.0 GDi and 1.6 engines.
• Cold start: Ask for the engine to be cold when you arrive and listen for tapping or knocking in the first minute.
• Service history: Look for on-time oil changes in the logbook. Hyundai can refuse engine claims when services were missed.
• Engine paperwork: Ask whether the engine was replaced or an oil consumption test was done, and get the dealer paperwork.
• Dual-clutch behaviour: On DCT cars, crawl in traffic, pull away on a slope and reverse. Feel for shudder or a delayed take-off.
• Steering: Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and feel for clicks or a clunk in the column.
• Automatic shifts: On FD autos, check for harsh or late changes once the car is warm.
• Front suspension: Drive over speed humps and listen for clunks from worn shock absorbers or mounts, which some owners report on high-kilometre PD cars.
• Infotainment: Pair your phone and test Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, as some PD owners report connection faults.

Run a Carify VIN check for the car's history, then work through our Hyundai i30 buying checklist before you pay.

The verdict

The i30 is a sound small car if you pick the engine carefully. A PD or i30 Sedan with a full logbook and a clean oil record is the best buy, and a PD 2.0 GDi with proof of a replacement engine can be a safer bet than an untouched one. Treat any GD or PD petrol that uses oil or knocks from cold as an engine job waiting to happen. Test DCT cars in traffic. An FD can still be good value, but check the automatic, the steering and its recall work.