MajorCommonElectrical

Hyundai i20: Weak or failing air conditioning (compressor and hose leaks)

Weak or failing air conditioning (compressor and hose leaks) is a common electrical fault on the Hyundai i20 on the 2010–2015 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $200 to $1,600 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 9 documented faults on the Hyundai i20.

Vehicle: Hyundai i20
Years: 2010–2015
System: Electrical

This page covers the Hyundai i20 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Hyundai i20 faults9 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Clutch yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

Air conditioning is a well-known weak point on the PB i20: the system often cools poorly, usually from a leaking discharge hose at its crimped ferrule or a failing compressor, sometimes after only 50,000-70,000 km. The compressor clutch coil can also short so power reaches it but the clutch won't engage. It's a comfort issue, not a safety one, but AC repairs on a cheap car can cost more than expected, so test it thoroughly.

What you would notice

Air con blows warm or only cools weakly
Cools at speed but not at idle
Hissing or oily residue near the AC hoses
Compressor doesn't click in

How to check it

Where to look. AC compressor on the engine; discharge hose and condenser at the front

Run the AC on max on the test drive and confirm it gets genuinely cold and stays cold at idle.
Listen for the compressor clutch engaging.
Ask if the AC has been re-gassed repeatedly (a sign of a leak) or the compressor replaced.

Parts involved: Clutch.

What it costs to put right

$200 to $1,600 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Does the air con get properly cold, including at idle?”
“Has it been re-gassed often or had the compressor replaced?”
“Any hissing or leaks from the AC?”

Now check the Hyundai i20 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Keepin Cool Auto Air 'Hyundai i20 Aircon Problems'
AUTODOC 'Hyundai i20: common problems and faults'

Hyundai i20 buyer questions

Is weak or failing air conditioning (compressor and hose leaks) serious on a Hyundai i20?

We rate it major and common on the Hyundai i20. Air conditioning is a well-known weak point on the PB i20: the system often cools poorly, usually from a leaking discharge hose at its crimped ferrule or a failing compressor, sometimes after only 50,000-70,000 km. The compressor clutch coil can also short so power reaches it but the clutch won't engage. It's a comfort issue, not a safety one, but AC repairs on a cheap car can cost more than expected, so test it thoroughly.

How much does it cost to fix on a Hyundai i20?

$200 to $1,600 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Hyundai i20 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2010–2015 Hyundai i20. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Run the AC on max on the test drive and confirm it gets genuinely cold and stays cold at idle. Listen for the compressor clutch engaging. Ask if the AC has been re-gassed repeatedly (a sign of a leak) or the compressor replaced. Look here: AC compressor on the engine; discharge hose and condenser at the front