2009 Chevrolet Matiz — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Chevrolet Matiz passed 71.4% of its 25,683 recorded MOT tests. Against city cars of a similar age (25.5% fail rate), the 2009 Matiz comes out 3.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.6%) and suspension (14.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, wipers and rigid brake pipes — ball joint alone was recorded 1,550 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.0% versus 20.4%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.2% 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 | 14.6% | 3,749 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.2% | 3,661 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.5% | 3,209 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.6% | 1,703 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.5% | 1,665 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 1,383 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 1,550 |
| 2 | Wipers | 1,408 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,363 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 1,356 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 1,353 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,235 |
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 | 34.2% | 8,786 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.8% | 8,421 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.1% | 7,485 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.6% | 3,224 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.2% | 3,130 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.9% | 2,794 |
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 | 4,402 | 20.4% |
| 30-60k | 12,584 | 28.3% |
| 60-90k | 7,042 | 32.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,438 | 34.1% |
| 120-150k | 164 | 34.2% |
| 150k+ | 30 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,437 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 5,755 | 27.8% |
| 2023 | 5,205 | 28.8% |
| 2024 | 4,517 | 29.6% |
| 2025 | 3,769 | 29.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Matiz
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.2% 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 (12.5% 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 Matizs pass their MOT?
71.4% of the 25,683 2009 Chevrolet Matiz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Chevrolet Matiz?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by suspension (14.2%).
Does the 2009 Matiz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.4% in the 0-30k band to 30.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 25,683 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.