2009 Proton Savvy — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Proton Savvy passed 69.7% of its 766 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.4 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.4%) and brakes (17.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 109 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 37.1% once past 90-120k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.4% in 2021 to 26.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 133 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.2% | 132 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.1% | 70 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.0% | 61 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.8% | 52 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 48 |
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 | 109 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 74 |
| 3 | Wipers | 51 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 44 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 39 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 39 |
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 | 38.0% | 291 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.1% | 261 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.3% | 194 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 103 |
| 5 | Steering | 9.5% | 73 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 58 |
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 | 135 | 25.2% |
| 30-60k | 397 | 30.2% |
| 60-90k | 197 | 32.5% |
| 90-120k | 35 | 37.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 247 | 30.4% |
| 2022 | 196 | 29.6% |
| 2023 | 153 | 32.0% |
| 2024 | 105 | 31.4% |
| 2025 | 65 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Savvy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.2% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Proton Savvys pass their MOT?
69.7% of the 766 2009 Proton Savvy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Proton Savvy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.4% of tests, followed by brakes (17.2%).
Does the 2009 Savvy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.2% in the 0-30k band to 37.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 766 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.