2009 Vauxhall Astra — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Vauxhall Astra passed 72.3% of its 277,103 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 25.3% of the time, so this is 2.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 16.5% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and washers — coil spring alone was recorded 29,395 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.3% versus 16.4%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 27.6% of the time against 28.5% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.5% | 45,654 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 36,982 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 22,068 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.4% | 17,610 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.9% | 16,308 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 14,940 |
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 | 29,395 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 11,739 |
| 3 | Washers | 11,528 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 10,939 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 10,151 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 9,003 |
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 | 32.7% | 90,639 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.2% | 89,126 |
| 3 | Tyres | 31.2% | 86,431 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.9% | 63,568 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.2% | 36,628 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.4% | 31,649 |
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 | 4,002 | 16.4% |
| 30-60k | 31,591 | 22.6% |
| 60-90k | 84,230 | 26.5% |
| 90-120k | 90,187 | 29.1% |
| 120-150k | 45,375 | 30.6% |
| 150k+ | 21,575 | 30.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 232,672 | 27.6% |
| Diesel | 44,414 | 28.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 68,754 | 28.1% |
| 2022 | 62,524 | 27.3% |
| 2023 | 56,542 | 27.9% |
| 2024 | 48,590 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 40,693 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Astra
On a 2009 Astra, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (16.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.0% 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 Astras pass their MOT?
72.3% of the 277,103 2009 Vauxhall Astra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Vauxhall Astra?
Suspension, recorded in 16.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.4%).
Does the 2009 Astra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.4% in the 0-30k band to 30.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 277,103 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.