2009 Toyota Hi=Ace — MOT failures & pass rate
4,532 MOT tests on the 2009 Toyota Hi=Ace are in this dataset, and 81.5% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 25.4% of the time, so this is 6.9pp 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 12.4% of tests against 7.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, wipers and linkage pins and bushes — position lamp alone was recorded 228 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.1% versus 6.7%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 31.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 562 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.4% | 335 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.8% | 309 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.5% | 251 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 197 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.6% | 164 |
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 | 228 |
| 2 | Wipers | 226 |
| 3 | Linkage pins and bushes | 167 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 160 |
| 5 | On or after 01/07/2008 | 146 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 140 |
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 | 31.2% | 1,413 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.6% | 1,115 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.8% | 941 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 617 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.3% | 469 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.5% | 340 |
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 | 45 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 314 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 720 | 14.2% |
| 90-120k | 946 | 17.9% |
| 120-150k | 882 | 20.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,622 | 22.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,475 | 18.6% |
| Petrol | 57 | 17.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 972 | 18.1% |
| 2022 | 987 | 19.1% |
| 2023 | 915 | 18.4% |
| 2024 | 867 | 19.1% |
| 2025 | 791 | 17.8% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Hi=Ace
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.4% 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 (6.8% 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 Hi=Aces pass their MOT?
81.5% of the 4,532 2009 Toyota Hi=Ace MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Toyota Hi=Ace?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.4% of tests, followed by suspension (7.4%).
Does the 2009 Hi=Ace get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 22.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,532 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.