2009 Vauxhall Astravan — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Vauxhall Astravan passed 72.5% of its 3,607 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.6%) and lighting & signalling (13.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, pins and bushes and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 385 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2009 Astravan fails 25.5% of the time in the 30-60k band and 28.0% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.5 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.6% | 599 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 499 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.7% | 313 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.4% | 268 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.6% | 239 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 210 |
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 | 385 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 223 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 181 |
| 4 | Washers | 177 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 171 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 146 |
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 | 36.9% | 1,330 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.9% | 1,259 |
| 3 | Tyres | 32.1% | 1,157 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.1% | 615 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 456 |
| 6 | Visibility | 11.3% | 408 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 98 | 25.5% |
| 60-90k | 299 | 27.4% |
| 90-120k | 676 | 26.3% |
| 120-150k | 966 | 28.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,558 | 28.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,547 | 27.6% |
| Petrol | 60 | 25.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 905 | 27.5% |
| 2022 | 808 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 735 | 28.2% |
| 2024 | 641 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 518 | 28.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Astravan
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 16.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (16.6% 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 (13.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.7% 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 Astravans pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 3,607 2009 Vauxhall Astravan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Vauxhall Astravan?
Suspension, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.8%).
Does the 2009 Astravan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.5% in the 30-60k band to 28.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,607 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.