2009 Volkswagen Golf — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 296,110 MOT tests analysed for the 2009 Volkswagen Golf, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 76.5% was above the average for small family cars of a similar age (74.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 27.1% in the 150k+ group versus 10.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.8% | 37,937 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 29,625 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.0% | 20,775 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.1% | 17,984 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 11,497 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 10,667 |
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 | 14,974 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 11,568 |
| 3 | Ball joint dust cover | 11,437 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 11,176 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 10,019 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 8,185 |
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 | 35.3% | 104,510 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.1% | 86,285 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.7% | 64,235 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.4% | 27,923 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 26,227 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 20,441 |
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 | 3,449 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 23,992 | 15.6% |
| 60-90k | 64,214 | 21.0% |
| 90-120k | 91,404 | 24.5% |
| 120-150k | 68,436 | 25.7% |
| 150k+ | 44,471 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 157,966 | 24.8% |
| Petrol | 138,138 | 22.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 64,291 | 22.4% |
| 2022 | 62,710 | 22.7% |
| 2023 | 60,781 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 56,619 | 24.3% |
| 2025 | 51,709 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Golf
Before buying a 2009 Volkswagen Golf, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 12.8% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (12.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.0% 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 Golfs pass their MOT?
76.5% of the 296,110 2009 Volkswagen Golf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Volkswagen Golf?
Suspension, recorded in 12.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.0%).
Does the 2009 Golf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 27.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 296,110 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.