2009 Subaru Justy — MOT failures & pass rate
1,489 MOT tests on the 2009 Subaru Justy are in this dataset, and 78.3% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 25.4% of the time, so this is 3.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 11.3% of tests against 7.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, catalyst emissions and wipers — ball joint alone was recorded 126 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 35.7% versus 9.3%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.3% | 169 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 115 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.9% | 102 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.6% | 83 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 73 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 68 |
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 | 126 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 80 |
| 3 | Wipers | 76 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 52 |
| 5 | Joints | 42 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 42 |
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 | 33.7% | 502 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.6% | 441 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.3% | 376 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.7% | 249 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.7% | 189 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 152 |
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 | 139 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 436 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 500 | 24.4% |
| 90-120k | 320 | 27.8% |
| 120-150k | 70 | 35.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 316 | 17.1% |
| 2022 | 329 | 22.8% |
| 2023 | 290 | 19.0% |
| 2024 | 289 | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 265 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Justy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 11.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (11.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.9% 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 Subaru Justys pass their MOT?
78.3% of the 1,489 2009 Subaru Justy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Subaru Justy?
Suspension, recorded in 11.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.7%).
Does the 2009 Justy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 35.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,489 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.