2009 Volkswagen Passat — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 82,516 MOT tests, the 2009 Volkswagen Passat recorded a 75.9% pass rate. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (25.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 13.0% of tests against 8.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and malfunction indicator lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 5,048 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.0% versus 17.2%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 21.9% fail against 24.2% for diesel, a 2.3-point gap across 82,510 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.0% | 10,723 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 7,047 |
| 3 | Tyres | 8.3% | 6,874 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 4,609 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.5% | 3,737 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 3,697 |
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 | 5,048 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 4,480 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 3,853 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 3,050 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,690 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 2,624 |
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 | 39.9% | 32,954 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.7% | 26,138 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.1% | 19,056 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 8,713 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.5% | 8,700 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 6,597 |
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 | 268 | 17.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,467 | 18.0% |
| 60-90k | 8,881 | 21.6% |
| 90-120k | 18,875 | 23.8% |
| 120-150k | 22,731 | 24.7% |
| 150k+ | 29,272 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 76,639 | 24.2% |
| Petrol | 5,871 | 21.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,309 | 24.3% |
| 2022 | 18,698 | 23.7% |
| 2023 | 16,886 | 24.2% |
| 2024 | 14,384 | 23.6% |
| 2025 | 12,239 | 24.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Passat
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.0% 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 (8.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (8.3% 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.
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 Passats pass their MOT?
75.9% of the 82,516 2009 Volkswagen Passat MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Volkswagen Passat?
Suspension, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.5%).
Does the 2009 Passat get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.2% in the 0-30k band to 25.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 82,516 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.