2009 Piaggio Porter — MOT failures & pass rate
332 MOT tests on the 2009 Piaggio Porter are in this dataset, and 73.8% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail at 25.3%, so the 2009 Porter sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.8% of all tests — 3.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — service brake performance alone was recorded 44 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.4% once past 60-90k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.8% in 2021 to 15.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 59 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.8% | 49 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 11.1% | 37 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.7% | 29 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.6% | 22 |
| 6 | Suspension | 5.4% | 18 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 44 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 44 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 19 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 17 |
| 6 | Wipers | 16 |
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 | 27.4% | 91 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.9% | 76 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.4% | 61 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.6% | 55 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.7% | 42 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.4% | 28 |
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 | 80 | 21.3% |
| 30-60k | 121 | 21.5% |
| 60-90k | 95 | 28.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 72 | 27.8% |
| 2022 | 79 | 32.9% |
| 2023 | 77 | 27.3% |
| 2024 | 60 | 21.7% |
| 2025 | 44 | 15.9% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Porter
On a 2009 Porter, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.8% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (11.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Piaggio Porters pass their MOT?
73.8% of the 332 2009 Piaggio Porter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Piaggio Porter?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by brakes (14.8%).
Does the 2009 Porter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.3% in the 0-30k band to 28.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 332 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.