2009 Vauxhall Corsa — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Vauxhall Corsa passed 73.2% of its 349,846 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (26.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.1%) and suspension (15.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and stop lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 29,930 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.8% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 26.6% of the time against 27.6% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 30.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 59,788 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.9% | 55,535 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.1% | 21,480 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.0% | 20,994 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.6% | 19,461 |
| 6 | Brakes | 5.1% | 17,971 |
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 | 29,930 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 18,885 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 17,533 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 17,204 |
| 5 | Washers | 15,760 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 15,530 |
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 | 30.0% | 105,092 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.3% | 102,532 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 20.1% | 70,399 |
| 4 | Brakes | 19.1% | 66,688 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 44,872 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.1% | 38,649 |
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 | 9,563 | 17.8% |
| 30-60k | 64,180 | 22.8% |
| 60-90k | 133,658 | 26.8% |
| 90-120k | 101,039 | 28.9% |
| 120-150k | 32,777 | 29.3% |
| 150k+ | 8,489 | 29.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 300,582 | 26.6% |
| Diesel | 49,264 | 27.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 85,993 | 27.3% |
| 2022 | 78,527 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 71,561 | 27.0% |
| 2024 | 62,007 | 26.7% |
| 2025 | 51,758 | 26.6% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Corsa
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.9% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (6.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Corsas pass their MOT?
73.2% of the 349,846 2009 Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Vauxhall Corsa?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.1% of tests, followed by suspension (15.9%).
Does the 2009 Corsa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.8% in the 0-30k band to 29.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 349,846 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.