2009 Toyota Aygo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 82,281 MOT tests, the 2009 Toyota Aygo recorded a 75.7% pass rate. That is 1.5 percentage points better than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.9%) and brakes (12.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, position lamp and headlamp aim — service brake performance alone was recorded 7,633 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.1% in the 0-30k band and 31.4% in the 150k+ band, a 17.3-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 22.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 11,464 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.5% | 10,267 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.0% | 6,555 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.9% | 4,039 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 3,528 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.9% | 3,191 |
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 | 7,633 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 4,397 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 4,203 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 3,504 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,801 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 2,647 |
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 | 35.1% | 28,908 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.0% | 23,862 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.7% | 21,979 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 9,367 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 8,249 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.0% | 7,422 |
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 | 6,089 | 14.1% |
| 30-60k | 22,876 | 20.3% |
| 60-90k | 29,734 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 16,928 | 29.0% |
| 120-150k | 5,227 | 30.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,413 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,918 | 22.2% |
| 2022 | 16,870 | 23.1% |
| 2023 | 16,747 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 16,302 | 25.8% |
| 2025 | 15,444 | 26.1% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Aygo
On a 2009 Aygo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.5% 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.
- Suspension (8.0% 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 Aygos pass their MOT?
75.7% of the 82,281 2009 Toyota Aygo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Toyota Aygo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by brakes (12.5%).
Does the 2009 Aygo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.1% in the 0-30k band to 31.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 82,281 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.