2009 Toyota Hiace — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,267 MOT tests, the 2009 Toyota Hiace recorded an 80.2% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (25.4% fail rate), the 2009 Hiace comes out 5.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.0% of all tests — 6.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, wipers and rear fog lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 62 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 23.6% versus 13.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 30.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.2% in 2021 to 19.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 165 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.6% | 84 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.7% | 72 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 62 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 54 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 42 |
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 | 62 |
| 2 | Wipers | 54 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 42 |
| 4 | On or after 01/07/2008 | 41 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 36 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 34 |
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 | 30.0% | 380 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.9% | 278 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.5% | 234 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 141 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.6% | 121 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 111 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 69 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 187 | 17.1% |
| 90-120k | 289 | 18.7% |
| 120-150k | 265 | 19.3% |
| 150k+ | 433 | 23.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,153 | 20.6% |
| Petrol | 114 | 12.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 274 | 21.2% |
| 2022 | 262 | 17.9% |
| 2023 | 266 | 19.2% |
| 2024 | 242 | 21.5% |
| 2025 | 223 | 19.3% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Hiace
On a 2009 Hiace, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.6% 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 (5.7% 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 Hiaces pass their MOT?
80.2% of the 1,267 2009 Toyota Hiace MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Toyota Hiace?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by suspension (6.6%).
Does the 2009 Hiace get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 30-60k band to 23.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,267 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.