2009 Chevrolet Captiva — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Chevrolet Captiva passed 68.7% of its 5,291 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (26.1% fail rate), the 2009 Captiva comes out 5.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 21.6% of all tests — 6.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, position lamp and pins and bushes — stop lamp alone was recorded 468 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 34.0% versus 28.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 41.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 30.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 33.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.6% | 1,145 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.3% | 807 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.9% | 737 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 504 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.2% | 381 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.2% | 380 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 468 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 417 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 341 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 327 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 303 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 262 |
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 | 41.4% | 2,189 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.5% | 1,824 |
| 3 | Tyres | 32.4% | 1,714 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 27.5% | 1,457 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 21.9% | 1,157 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 994 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 274 | 28.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,312 | 29.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,065 | 31.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,205 | 32.5% |
| 150k+ | 412 | 34.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,128 | 31.5% |
| Petrol | 163 | 23.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,408 | 30.2% |
| 2022 | 1,314 | 31.1% |
| 2023 | 1,096 | 31.3% |
| 2024 | 855 | 32.2% |
| 2025 | 618 | 33.2% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Captiva
On a 2009 Captiva, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (21.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.3% 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 (13.9% 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 Captivas pass their MOT?
68.7% of the 5,291 2009 Chevrolet Captiva MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Chevrolet Captiva?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.6% of tests, followed by suspension (15.3%).
Does the 2009 Captiva get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.8% in the 30-60k band to 34.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,291 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.