2009 Volkswagen Phaeton — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 706 MOT tests, the 2009 Volkswagen Phaeton recorded an 81.6% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (25.2% fail rate), the 2009 Phaeton comes out 6.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.4%) and brakes (7.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 20 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2009 Phaeton fails 15.1% of the time in the 30-60k band and 17.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.2 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 52 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.2% | 51 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.8% | 48 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.1% | 29 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.1% | 22 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 13 |
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 | 20 |
| 2 | Washers | 20 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 19 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 15 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 15 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 13 |
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 | 24.9% | 176 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.3% | 143 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.6% | 117 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 103 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.8% | 62 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.9% | 42 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 73 | 15.1% |
| 60-90k | 104 | 15.4% |
| 90-120k | 251 | 21.9% |
| 120-150k | 150 | 17.3% |
| 150k+ | 127 | 17.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 175 | 20.0% |
| 2022 | 160 | 16.3% |
| 2023 | 149 | 18.8% |
| 2024 | 125 | 18.4% |
| 2025 | 97 | 18.6% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Phaeton
On a 2009 Phaeton, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.2% 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.
- Tyres (6.8% 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 Phaetons pass their MOT?
81.6% of the 706 2009 Volkswagen Phaeton MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Volkswagen Phaeton?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by brakes (7.2%).
Does the 2009 Phaeton get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.1% in the 30-60k band to 17.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 706 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.