2009 LDV Maxus — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 LDV Maxus passed 77.0% of its 544 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 25.4% of the time, so this is 2.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (13.4%) and lighting & signalling (13.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, component mounting prescribed areas and position lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 57 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.8% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 46.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 13.4% | 73 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 72 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.3% | 40 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.2% | 39 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 26 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 24 |
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 | 57 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 35 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 33 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 31 |
| 5 | Wipers | 30 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 20 |
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 | 46.5% | 253 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.6% | 161 |
| 3 | Tyres | 16.4% | 89 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.4% | 84 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 78 |
| 6 | Visibility | 11.4% | 62 |
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 | 46 | 19.6% |
| 30-60k | 74 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 78 | 20.5% |
| 90-120k | 105 | 21.9% |
| 120-150k | 107 | 29.0% |
| 150k+ | 124 | 25.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 118 | 24.6% |
| 2022 | 125 | 22.4% |
| 2023 | 100 | 17.0% |
| 2024 | 106 | 21.7% |
| 2025 | 95 | 29.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Maxus
On a 2009 Maxus, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (13.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.3% 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.
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 LDV Maxuss pass their MOT?
77.0% of the 544 2009 LDV Maxus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 LDV Maxus?
Brakes, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.2%).
Does the 2009 Maxus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.6% in the 0-30k band to 25.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 544 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.