2009 Toyota Vitz — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 356 MOT tests, the 2009 Toyota Vitz recorded an 85.7% pass rate. That is 11.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.8% of tests against 6.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp aim and wipers — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 19 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.7% versus 6.1%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 42 |
| 2 | Visibility | 6.2% | 22 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.9% | 21 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.4% | 12 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.1% | 11 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 7 |
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 | 19 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 3 | Wipers | 15 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 12 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 10 |
| 6 | Washers | 9 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 20.5% | 73 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.9% | 46 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 41 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.3% | 26 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.1% | 18 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.8% | 17 |
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 | 49 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 157 | 12.7% |
| 60-90k | 95 | 15.8% |
| 90-120k | 36 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 32 | 12.5% |
| 2022 | 55 | 9.1% |
| 2023 | 76 | 14.5% |
| 2024 | 96 | 15.6% |
| 2025 | 97 | 16.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Vitz
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (6.2% 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.
- Suspension (5.9% 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.
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 Vitzs pass their MOT?
85.7% of the 356 2009 Toyota Vitz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Toyota Vitz?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.8% of tests, followed by visibility (6.2%).
Does the 2009 Vitz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 356 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.