2009 Volkswagen Tiguan — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 41,344 MOT tests analysed for the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres. Its pass rate of 75.7% was above the average for mid-size SUVs of a similar age (73.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 25.3% in the 150k+ group versus 16.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.4% | 6,786 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 3,394 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.1% | 2,510 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 1,855 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.2% | 1,750 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 1,396 |
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 | 2,724 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 2,374 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,996 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 1,966 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,702 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,580 |
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 | 41.1% | 16,987 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.8% | 11,927 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.1% | 9,543 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 4,217 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.6% | 3,952 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 3,818 |
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 | 138 | 16.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,588 | 18.4% |
| 60-90k | 7,532 | 22.0% |
| 90-120k | 14,248 | 24.7% |
| 120-150k | 11,703 | 25.6% |
| 150k+ | 6,123 | 25.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 38,909 | 24.4% |
| Petrol | 2,435 | 22.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,952 | 23.4% |
| 2022 | 8,762 | 23.6% |
| 2023 | 8,473 | 24.5% |
| 2024 | 7,823 | 24.3% |
| 2025 | 7,334 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Tiguan
Before buying a 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 16.4% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (16.4% 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 (8.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.1% 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 Tiguans pass their MOT?
75.7% of the 41,344 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Suspension, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.2%).
Does the 2009 Tiguan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 0-30k band to 25.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 41,344 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.