2009 Volkswagen Jetta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,683 MOT tests, the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta recorded a 76.1% pass rate. That is 1.3 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.2%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (11.8%) and lighting & signalling (11.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 538 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.3% in the 0-30k band and 25.5% in the 150k+ band, a 14.2-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 22.9% of the time against 24.2% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.8% | 903 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 871 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.2% | 474 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 450 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.8% | 442 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 366 |
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 | 538 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 389 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 342 |
| 4 | Joints | 335 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 270 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 204 |
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 | 32.9% | 2,531 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.3% | 2,177 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.2% | 1,703 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 1,243 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.1% | 927 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.1% | 696 |
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 | 80 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 658 | 18.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,720 | 21.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,289 | 25.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,702 | 25.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,228 | 25.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,822 | 24.2% |
| Petrol | 1,861 | 22.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,947 | 24.0% |
| 2022 | 1,773 | 24.3% |
| 2023 | 1,570 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 1,313 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 1,080 | 24.2% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Jetta
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 11.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (11.8% 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 (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.2% 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 Jettas pass their MOT?
76.1% of the 7,683 2009 Volkswagen Jetta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta?
Suspension, recorded in 11.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.3%).
Does the 2009 Jetta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 0-30k band to 25.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,683 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.