2009 Chevrolet Lacetti — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,447 MOT tests, the 2009 Chevrolet Lacetti recorded a 68.9% pass rate. Against small family cars of a similar age (25.1% fail rate), the 2009 Lacetti comes out 6.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 21.7% of all tests — 4.9 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and rigid brake pipes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 425 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.4% in the 0-30k band and 30.2% in the 150k+ band, a 11.8-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 30.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 34.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.7% | 965 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.8% | 746 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.9% | 573 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.9% | 306 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.5% | 289 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 262 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 425 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 418 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 335 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 321 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 297 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 252 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 40.9% | 1,820 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 30.9% | 1,376 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.6% | 1,272 |
| 4 | Suspension | 28.5% | 1,267 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.7% | 652 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.0% | 623 |
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 | 136 | 18.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,337 | 26.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,821 | 31.5% |
| 90-120k | 856 | 37.3% |
| 120-150k | 233 | 37.3% |
| 150k+ | 63 | 30.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,299 | 30.6% |
| 2022 | 1,037 | 29.1% |
| 2023 | 858 | 30.1% |
| 2024 | 712 | 34.1% |
| 2025 | 541 | 34.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Lacetti
On a 2009 Lacetti, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (21.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.8% 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.
- Suspension (12.9% 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.
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 Lacettis pass their MOT?
68.9% of the 4,447 2009 Chevrolet Lacetti MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Chevrolet Lacetti?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.7% of tests, followed by brakes (16.8%).
Does the 2009 Lacetti get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.4% in the 0-30k band to 30.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,447 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.