2009 Volkswagen Touran — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 37,737 MOT tests, the 2009 Volkswagen Touran recorded a 73.4% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail at 27.2%, so the 2009 Touran sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 15.5% of all tests — 4.8 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, linkage ball joint dust cover and joints — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 2,120 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.0% in the 0-30k band and 27.7% in the 150k+ band, a 11.7-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.4pp more often than petrol ones (26.9% vs 23.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 43.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.5% | 5,842 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 4,024 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.9% | 2,992 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 2,315 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.0% | 2,269 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 1,850 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 2,120 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 2,056 |
| 3 | Joints | 1,983 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 1,713 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,708 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,453 |
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 | 43.6% | 16,440 |
| 2 | Tyres | 33.5% | 12,641 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.8% | 7,842 |
| 4 | Other defects | 14.0% | 5,300 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 5,162 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.5% | 4,345 |
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 | 106 | 16.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,203 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 5,175 | 24.4% |
| 90-120k | 10,825 | 26.6% |
| 120-150k | 10,837 | 27.7% |
| 150k+ | 9,573 | 27.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 34,132 | 26.9% |
| Petrol | 3,602 | 23.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,420 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 8,192 | 25.9% |
| 2023 | 7,796 | 27.3% |
| 2024 | 7,066 | 26.8% |
| 2025 | 6,263 | 27.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Touran
On a 2009 Touran, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.5% 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 (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.9% 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 Tourans pass their MOT?
73.4% of the 37,737 2009 Volkswagen Touran MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Volkswagen Touran?
Suspension, recorded in 15.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.7%).
Does the 2009 Touran get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.0% in the 0-30k band to 27.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 37,737 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.