2009 Volkswagen California — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Volkswagen California passed 81.5% of its 313 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 25.5% of the time, so this is 7.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.9%) and suspension (7.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, ball joint dust cover and registration plate lamp(s) — headlamp aim alone was recorded 10 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 24.4% versus 7.8%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 19.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 31 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.7% | 24 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.2% | 13 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 10 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.6% | 8 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 8 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 8 |
| 4 | Wipers | 7 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 6 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 6 |
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 | 19.2% | 60 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.6% | 55 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.7% | 49 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 32 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.6% | 30 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.4% | 20 |
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 | 77 | 7.8% |
| 60-90k | 94 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 84 | 23.8% |
| 120-150k | 41 | 24.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 66 | 19.7% |
| 2022 | 59 | 15.3% |
| 2023 | 60 | 18.3% |
| 2024 | 62 | 17.7% |
| 2025 | 66 | 21.2% |
What to check before buying a 2009 California
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.7% 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 (4.2% 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 Volkswagen Californias pass their MOT?
81.5% of the 313 2009 Volkswagen California MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Volkswagen California?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.9% of tests, followed by suspension (7.7%).
Does the 2009 California get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 30-60k band to 24.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 313 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.