2009 Vauxhall Antara — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,301 MOT tests, the 2009 Vauxhall Antara recorded a 69.8% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 26.1% of the time, so this is 4.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.0%) and suspension (14.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and pins and bushes — position lamp alone was recorded 394 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 24.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.0% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 38.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 29.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 899 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.5% | 767 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.2% | 698 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 410 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.8% | 359 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 350 |
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 | 394 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 335 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 314 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 249 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 238 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 232 |
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 | 38.5% | 2,041 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.1% | 1,860 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.2% | 1,599 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.3% | 1,184 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 19.3% | 1,021 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 815 |
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 | 45 | 24.4% |
| 30-60k | 338 | 23.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,610 | 29.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,329 | 30.8% |
| 120-150k | 794 | 31.4% |
| 150k+ | 171 | 31.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,441 | 29.4% |
| 2022 | 1,319 | 29.9% |
| 2023 | 1,112 | 29.9% |
| 2024 | 846 | 31.6% |
| 2025 | 583 | 31.1% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Antara
On a 2009 Antara, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.5% 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 (13.2% 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 Vauxhall Antaras pass their MOT?
69.8% of the 5,301 2009 Vauxhall Antara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Vauxhall Antara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.0% of tests, followed by suspension (14.5%).
Does the 2009 Antara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.4% in the 0-30k band to 31.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,301 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.