2009 Volkswagen Fox — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 33,463 MOT tests, the 2009 Volkswagen Fox recorded a 71.7% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 25.7% of the time, so this is 2.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.3%) and suspension (15.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, headlamp aim and catalyst emissions — headlamp alone was recorded 2,236 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.3% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 28.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 5,456 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.8% | 5,295 |
| 3 | Visibility | 9.2% | 3,085 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 2,540 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 2,482 |
| 6 | Brakes | 6.0% | 2,012 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 2,236 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,215 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 2,116 |
| 4 | Washers | 2,065 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,654 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,541 |
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 | 28.7% | 9,590 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.6% | 9,559 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 5,017 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 4,831 |
| 5 | Brakes | 14.2% | 4,765 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.3% | 3,107 |
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 | 2,687 | 18.0% |
| 30-60k | 9,052 | 24.8% |
| 60-90k | 12,096 | 29.6% |
| 90-120k | 7,035 | 32.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,078 | 34.0% |
| 150k+ | 496 | 35.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 33,414 | 28.3% |
| Diesel | 49 | 36.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,222 | 26.7% |
| 2022 | 7,061 | 27.2% |
| 2023 | 6,802 | 28.3% |
| 2024 | 6,459 | 30.0% |
| 2025 | 5,919 | 29.9% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Fox
On a 2009 Fox, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.8% 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.
- Visibility (9.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 Foxs pass their MOT?
71.7% of the 33,463 2009 Volkswagen Fox MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Volkswagen Fox?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by suspension (15.8%).
Does the 2009 Fox get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.0% in the 0-30k band to 35.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 33,463 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.