2009 Toyota Yaris — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Toyota Yaris passed 79.4% of its 155,412 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (26.2% fail rate), the 2009 Yaris comes out 5.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.5%) and suspension (10.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and wipers — coil spring alone was recorded 9,121 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.0% in the 0-30k band and 26.9% in the 150k+ band, a 15.9-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.2pp more often than petrol ones (24.5% vs 20.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 17,886 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.8% | 16,754 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.7% | 8,846 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.0% | 7,818 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.5% | 6,916 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 5,926 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 9,121 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 8,118 |
| 3 | Wipers | 6,718 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 5,503 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 5,092 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 5,080 |
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 | 26.5% | 41,178 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.5% | 41,118 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.9% | 38,748 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.0% | 23,249 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 13,942 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 7,638 |
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 | 8,720 | 11.0% |
| 30-60k | 38,521 | 16.5% |
| 60-90k | 53,103 | 21.0% |
| 90-120k | 35,845 | 23.9% |
| 120-150k | 14,057 | 25.7% |
| 150k+ | 5,139 | 26.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 144,068 | 20.3% |
| Diesel | 11,336 | 24.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 32,266 | 20.2% |
| 2022 | 31,599 | 19.5% |
| 2023 | 31,427 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 30,386 | 20.5% |
| 2025 | 29,734 | 22.1% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Yaris
On a 2009 Yaris, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.8% 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.
- Visibility (5.7% 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.
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 Yariss pass their MOT?
79.4% of the 155,412 2009 Toyota Yaris MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Toyota Yaris?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.5% of tests, followed by suspension (10.8%).
Does the 2009 Yaris get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.0% in the 0-30k band to 26.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 155,412 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.