2009 Toyota Verso — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Toyota Verso passed 80.5% of its 12,171 recorded MOT tests. Against MPVs of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), the 2009 Verso comes out 7.7pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests against 7.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and wipers — position lamp alone was recorded 1,253 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.1% in the 0-30k band and 23.8% in the 150k+ band, a 10.7-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 18.4% fail against 21.5% for diesel, a 3.1-point gap across 12,166 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 37.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 2,022 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.3% | 889 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.5% | 796 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.9% | 720 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.5% | 543 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 220 |
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 | 1,253 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 568 |
| 3 | Wipers | 417 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 405 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 391 |
| 6 | Washers | 351 |
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 | 37.1% | 4,518 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.1% | 3,538 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.0% | 3,160 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.7% | 2,155 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.3% | 1,861 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 1,032 |
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 | 122 | 13.1% |
| 30-60k | 936 | 13.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,744 | 17.4% |
| 90-120k | 3,705 | 19.2% |
| 120-150k | 2,605 | 21.3% |
| 150k+ | 2,055 | 23.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 7,728 | 18.4% |
| Diesel | 4,438 | 21.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,598 | 18.0% |
| 2022 | 2,562 | 19.2% |
| 2023 | 2,447 | 18.7% |
| 2024 | 2,378 | 20.5% |
| 2025 | 2,186 | 21.7% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Verso
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.3% 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 (6.5% 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.
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 Versos pass their MOT?
80.5% of the 12,171 2009 Toyota Verso MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Toyota Verso?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by suspension (7.3%).
Does the 2009 Verso get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.1% in the 0-30k band to 23.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,171 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.