2009 Toyota Avensis — MOT failures & pass rate
35,812 MOT tests on the 2009 Toyota Avensis are in this dataset, and 78.6% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail 25.1% of the time, so this is 3.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.2% of tests against 8.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and headlamp — position lamp alone was recorded 2,775 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.0% versus 8.4%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 19.2% fail against 23.4% for diesel, a 4.2-point gap across 35,793 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 5,431 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.6% | 3,093 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.5% | 2,690 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.8% | 1,734 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 1,597 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 659 |
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 | 2,775 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,858 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 1,361 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 1,288 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,156 |
| 6 | Washers | 968 |
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 | 34.2% | 12,257 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.5% | 10,192 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.6% | 9,523 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 6,241 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.0% | 4,660 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 2,324 |
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 | 285 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,604 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 6,500 | 17.4% |
| 90-120k | 9,064 | 21.1% |
| 120-150k | 7,587 | 23.7% |
| 150k+ | 9,763 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 18,688 | 23.4% |
| Petrol | 17,105 | 19.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,208 | 19.9% |
| 2022 | 7,859 | 20.5% |
| 2023 | 7,204 | 21.1% |
| 2024 | 6,606 | 22.5% |
| 2025 | 5,935 | 23.7% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Avensis
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.6% 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.
- Brakes (7.5% 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 Toyota Avensiss pass their MOT?
78.6% of the 35,812 2009 Toyota Avensis MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Toyota Avensis?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.2% of tests, followed by suspension (8.6%).
Does the 2009 Avensis get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 25.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 35,812 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.