2009 Volkswagen Scirocco — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco passed 75.2% of its 35,228 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.6 percentage points worse than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 20.2%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.1%) and lighting & signalling (12.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and position lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 2,497 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.1% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.2pp more often than petrol ones (26.0% vs 23.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.1% | 4,614 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 4,465 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.1% | 2,501 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.1% | 2,487 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 1,861 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 1,210 |
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 | 2,497 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,837 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,668 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,450 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,343 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,317 |
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 | 29.3% | 10,335 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.2% | 10,299 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.4% | 7,875 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.7% | 4,826 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 3,377 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.7% | 2,364 |
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 | 205 | 10.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,561 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 6,960 | 22.7% |
| 90-120k | 12,715 | 25.2% |
| 120-150k | 9,106 | 26.2% |
| 150k+ | 4,662 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 20,041 | 23.9% |
| Diesel | 15,182 | 26.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,754 | 24.3% |
| 2022 | 7,516 | 24.6% |
| 2023 | 7,164 | 24.9% |
| 2024 | 6,674 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 6,120 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Scirocco
On a 2009 Scirocco, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.1% 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 (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.1% 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 Sciroccos pass their MOT?
75.2% of the 35,228 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco?
Suspension, recorded in 13.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.7%).
Does the 2009 Scirocco get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.2% in the 0-30k band to 27.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 35,228 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.