2009 Vauxhall Movano — MOT failures & pass rate
1,000 MOT tests on the 2009 Vauxhall Movano are in this dataset, and 70.2% of them passed. That is 1.6 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 28.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.2%) and brakes (16.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), ball joint and service brake performance — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 97 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 22.2% in the 60-90k band and 33.9% in the 150k+ band, a 11.7-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 29.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 33.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 182 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.1% | 161 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.3% | 123 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 75 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.6% | 66 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.5% | 55 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 97 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 75 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 64 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 63 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 51 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 45 |
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 | 34.9% | 349 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.0% | 270 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.6% | 196 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 161 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.3% | 143 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.5% | 135 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 108 | 22.2% |
| 90-120k | 158 | 25.9% |
| 120-150k | 128 | 26.6% |
| 150k+ | 519 | 33.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 209 | 29.2% |
| 2022 | 195 | 26.7% |
| 2023 | 189 | 29.1% |
| 2024 | 208 | 30.8% |
| 2025 | 199 | 33.2% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Movano
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.1% 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.
- Suspension (12.3% 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.
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 Movanos pass their MOT?
70.2% of the 1,000 2009 Vauxhall Movano MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Vauxhall Movano?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.2% of tests, followed by brakes (16.1%).
Does the 2009 Movano get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.2% in the 60-90k band to 33.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,000 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.