2009 Vauxhall Meriva — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Vauxhall Meriva passed 70.4% of its 41,528 recorded MOT tests. Against MPVs of a similar age (27.0% fail rate), the 2009 Meriva comes out 2.6pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.5%) and suspension (15.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, coil spring and position lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 3,367 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 21.2% in the 0-30k band and 36.6% in the 150k+ band, a 15.4-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 29.4% fail against 32.6% for diesel, a 3.2-point gap across 41,528 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.2% 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 | 17.5% | 7,267 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.4% | 6,390 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.8% | 4,470 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.1% | 2,523 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 2,445 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 2,390 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,367 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 2,754 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 2,531 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,365 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 2,057 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 1,805 |
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 | 40.2% | 16,712 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.4% | 13,441 |
| 3 | Tyres | 31.3% | 12,982 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.1% | 7,495 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.4% | 7,230 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 15.2% | 6,330 |
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 | 1,206 | 21.2% |
| 30-60k | 9,408 | 25.0% |
| 60-90k | 16,927 | 29.7% |
| 90-120k | 10,467 | 32.7% |
| 120-150k | 2,748 | 34.4% |
| 150k+ | 478 | 36.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 38,667 | 29.4% |
| Diesel | 2,861 | 32.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,558 | 29.6% |
| 2022 | 9,491 | 29.0% |
| 2023 | 8,452 | 29.6% |
| 2024 | 7,186 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 5,841 | 30.3% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Meriva
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.4% 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 (10.8% 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 Merivas pass their MOT?
70.4% of the 41,528 2009 Vauxhall Meriva MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Vauxhall Meriva?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.5% of tests, followed by suspension (15.4%).
Does the 2009 Meriva get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.2% in the 0-30k band to 36.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 41,528 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.