2009 Volkswagen Eos — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,755 MOT tests, the 2009 Volkswagen Eos recorded a 76.3% pass rate. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 20.2% of the time, so this is 3.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 11.5% of all tests — 4.1 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and malfunction indicator lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 624 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.4% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.5pp more often than petrol ones (24.9% vs 22.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 22.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.5% | 1,007 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.4% | 648 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 566 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.2% | 539 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 340 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 333 |
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 | 624 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 299 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 273 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 258 |
| 5 | Washers | 256 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 213 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 29.7% | 2,599 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.6% | 2,412 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.1% | 2,113 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 946 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.2% | 541 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 469 |
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 | 173 | 13.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,429 | 17.0% |
| 60-90k | 2,993 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,594 | 26.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,139 | 27.0% |
| 150k+ | 424 | 26.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,729 | 24.9% |
| Petrol | 4,026 | 22.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,004 | 22.4% |
| 2022 | 1,887 | 22.7% |
| 2023 | 1,802 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 1,623 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 1,439 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Eos
On a 2009 Eos, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (11.5% 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.
- Tyres (7.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (6.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 Eoss pass their MOT?
76.3% of the 8,755 2009 Volkswagen Eos MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Volkswagen Eos?
Suspension, recorded in 11.5% of tests, followed by tyres (7.4%).
Does the 2009 Eos get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.9% in the 0-30k band to 26.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,755 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.