2009 Toyota Iq — MOT failures & pass rate
36,936 MOT tests on the 2009 Toyota Iq are in this dataset, and 83.8% of them passed. That is 9.6 percentage points better than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.5%) and visibility (5.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and headlamp — wipers alone was recorded 1,622 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.0% versus 8.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 29.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 3,153 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.8% | 2,139 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.8% | 2,125 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.4% | 2,010 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.4% | 1,271 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 635 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,622 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,204 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 1,072 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,045 |
| 5 | Washers | 994 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 991 |
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 | 29.1% | 10,736 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.3% | 8,605 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.3% | 6,762 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 3,122 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.4% | 2,717 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 2,451 |
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 | 2,669 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 10,573 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 12,979 | 16.8% |
| 90-120k | 7,471 | 19.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,355 | 21.2% |
| 150k+ | 879 | 23.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,482 | 15.0% |
| 2022 | 7,476 | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 7,457 | 16.0% |
| 2024 | 7,337 | 17.1% |
| 2025 | 7,184 | 18.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Iq
On a 2009 Iq, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (5.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (5.8% 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 Iqs pass their MOT?
83.8% of the 36,936 2009 Toyota Iq MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Toyota Iq?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.5% of tests, followed by visibility (5.8%).
Does the 2009 Iq get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 23.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 36,936 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.