2009 Daihatsu Materia — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Daihatsu Materia passed 81.0% of its 1,026 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (25.4% fail rate), the 2009 Materia comes out 6.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.9%) and suspension (8.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, wipers and position lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 40 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.4% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 31.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 102 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.4% | 86 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 82 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.7% | 48 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 47 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 27 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 40 |
| 2 | Wipers | 37 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 36 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 33 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 29 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 28 |
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 | 31.2% | 320 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.6% | 314 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.9% | 235 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.1% | 155 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 94 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 78 |
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 | 55 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 264 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 333 | 19.2% |
| 90-120k | 245 | 21.6% |
| 120-150k | 84 | 27.4% |
| 150k+ | 45 | 24.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 221 | 17.6% |
| 2022 | 208 | 16.4% |
| 2023 | 204 | 18.1% |
| 2024 | 196 | 20.4% |
| 2025 | 197 | 22.8% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Materia
On a 2009 Materia, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.4% 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 (8.0% 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 Daihatsu Materias pass their MOT?
81.0% of the 1,026 2009 Daihatsu Materia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Daihatsu Materia?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.9% of tests, followed by suspension (8.4%).
Does the 2009 Materia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 24.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,026 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.