2009 Toyota Vellfire — MOT failures & pass rate
1,580 MOT tests on the 2009 Toyota Vellfire are in this dataset, and 87.7% of them passed. That is 13.8 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.0%) and suspension (5.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, linkage ball joint dust cover and wipers — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 67 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.6% versus 15.6%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 16.1% 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 | 8.0% | 127 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.1% | 80 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.7% | 43 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.2% | 35 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.7% | 26 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 67 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 42 |
| 3 | Wipers | 32 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 31 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 29 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 29 |
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 | 16.1% | 254 |
| 2 | Tyres | 14.3% | 226 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 136 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 80 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.5% | 39 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.8% | 28 |
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 | 32 | 15.6% |
| 30-60k | 426 | 9.4% |
| 60-90k | 787 | 12.3% |
| 90-120k | 247 | 13.4% |
| 120-150k | 69 | 24.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 82 | 14.6% |
| 2022 | 223 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 320 | 9.7% |
| 2024 | 435 | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 520 | 14.6% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Vellfire
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.1% 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.
- Tyres (2.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 Vellfires pass their MOT?
87.7% of the 1,580 2009 Toyota Vellfire MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Toyota Vellfire?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by suspension (5.1%).
Does the 2009 Vellfire get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.6% in the 0-30k band to 24.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,580 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.