2009 Chevrolet Aveo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Chevrolet Aveo passed 67.2% of its 23,080 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (25.9% fail rate), the 2009 Aveo comes out 7.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.9%) and suspension (16.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, pins and bushes and track rod end — position lamp alone was recorded 2,049 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 22.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.8% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.9% | 4,137 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.5% | 3,808 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.8% | 3,411 |
| 4 | Steering | 9.1% | 2,099 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.1% | 1,875 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 1,552 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 2,049 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 1,981 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 1,906 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 1,795 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 1,503 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 1,274 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 35.3% | 8,140 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.8% | 7,569 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.4% | 6,785 |
| 4 | Other defects | 16.2% | 3,740 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.6% | 3,140 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 3,102 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,140 | 22.1% |
| 30-60k | 7,144 | 29.2% |
| 60-90k | 9,812 | 35.0% |
| 90-120k | 4,167 | 36.8% |
| 120-150k | 681 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 119 | 32.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,123 | 32.6% |
| 2022 | 5,378 | 32.9% |
| 2023 | 4,671 | 32.7% |
| 2024 | 3,850 | 33.1% |
| 2025 | 3,058 | 33.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Aveo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (14.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2009 Chevrolet Aveos pass their MOT?
67.2% of the 23,080 2009 Chevrolet Aveo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Chevrolet Aveo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.9% of tests, followed by suspension (16.5%).
Does the 2009 Aveo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.1% in the 0-30k band to 32.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 23,080 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.