2009 Toyota Auris — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 69,033 MOT tests, the 2009 Toyota Auris recorded a 79.7% pass rate. Against small family cars of a similar age (25.4% fail rate), the 2009 Auris comes out 5.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.9% of all tests — 7.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rigid brake pipes and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 6,277 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.3% versus 8.9%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.3pp more often than petrol ones (23.2% vs 19.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 41.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 11,003 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.0% | 6,199 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.1% | 4,875 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.1% | 3,555 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.1% | 2,825 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 1,913 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 6,277 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,673 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 3,031 |
| 4 | Wipers | 2,440 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,428 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 2,010 |
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 | 41.0% | 28,281 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.5% | 21,034 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.2% | 17,418 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.6% | 8,680 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 7,614 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 6,152 |
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 | 1,677 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 11,818 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 23,994 | 19.0% |
| 90-120k | 20,058 | 23.2% |
| 120-150k | 8,433 | 25.5% |
| 150k+ | 3,046 | 27.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 61,698 | 19.9% |
| Diesel | 7,322 | 23.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,693 | 18.7% |
| 2022 | 14,418 | 19.7% |
| 2023 | 14,058 | 20.5% |
| 2024 | 13,464 | 21.4% |
| 2025 | 12,400 | 21.3% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Auris
On a 2009 Auris, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.0% 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.
- Suspension (7.1% 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 Toyota Auriss pass their MOT?
79.7% of the 69,033 2009 Toyota Auris MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Toyota Auris?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.9% of tests, followed by brakes (9.0%).
Does the 2009 Auris get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 27.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 69,033 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.