2009 Vauxhall Corsa MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 54.6% of Vauxhall Corsas first used in 2009 passed their MOT first time, against 58.3% for all cars first used in 2009. Across 140,934 Corsa first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and noise, emissions and leaks.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Vauxhall Corsas first used in 2009 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
54.6%
of 39,559 first tests; all cars first used in 2009: 58.3%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
140,934
first tests, 2023–2025; 39,559 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
19.4%
of 39,559 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
87,500
middle half: 67,000–108,000 miles; all cars first used in 2009: 100,000

How the 2009 Vauxhall Corsa MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Corsas first used in 2009 against all cars first used in 2009 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Corsa figure was 3.7 points lower.

2009 CorsaAll cars first used in 2009
50%60%70%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2009, test year 2021: 60.5%All cars first used in 2009, test year 2022: 60.1%All cars first used in 2009, test year 2023: 59%All cars first used in 2009, test year 2024: 58.4%All cars first used in 2009, test year 2025: 58.3%2009 Corsa, test year 2021: 54%2009 Corsa, test year 2022: 55.2%2009 Corsa, test year 2023: 54.1%2009 Corsa, test year 2024: 54.4%2009 Corsa, test year 2025: 54.6%58.3%54.6%
View this chart as a table
Test year2009 CorsaAll cars first used 2009Corsa first tests
202154.0%60.5%64,420
202255.2%60.1%59,733
202354.1%59.0%54,143
202454.4%58.4%47,232
202554.6%58.3%39,559

Common 2009 Vauxhall Corsa MOT failures

Share of the 64,350 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment50.6%
Suspension44.3%
Noise, emissions and leaks18.8%
Visibility17.8%
Tyres16.1%
Brakes14.8%
Body, chassis, structure14.1%
Steering3.4%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Coil spring: fractured or broken18.8%12,070
Stop lamp: not working13.6%8,730
Position lamp: not working12.9%8,305
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak9.4%6,034
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam9.0%5,775

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

Typical repair costs for common MOT failures

Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a Corsa in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Coil spring: fractured or brokenCoil spring replacement£248£175–£400
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leakShock absorber replacement£300£200–£500

From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.

What to check on a 2009 Vauxhall Corsa before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. Engine and emissions. Worth checking that the engine warning light goes out after starting, looking for oil leaks under the car, and noticing any smoke from the exhaust.

Common 2009 Vauxhall Corsa MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2009 Corsas, as a share of all 140,934 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive22.0%30,969
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge16.7%23,563
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing14.4%20,313
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened10.2%14,373
Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil8.2%11,505

Questions about the 2009 Vauxhall Corsa MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2009 Vauxhall Corsa?

In 2025, 54.6% of Corsas first used in 2009 passed their MOT first time, against 58.3% for all cars first used in 2009. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2009 Corsa most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 50.6% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (44.3%) and noise, emissions and leaks (18.8%). The single most common item was “Coil spring: fractured or broken” (18.8%).

How often does a 2009 Vauxhall Corsa fail its MOT?

In 2025, 45.4% of first tests on Corsas first used in 2009 did not pass first time: 34.7% failed, and a further 10.6% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 64,350 of 140,934 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2009 Vauxhall Corsa MOT advisories?

“Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (on 22.0% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (16.7%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (14.4%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (10.2%) and “Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil” (8.2%).

Is a 2009 Vauxhall Corsa reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 54.0% in 2021 to 54.6% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2009

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2009 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2009 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2009 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2009 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics · 2009 MINI Hatch MOT statistics

How the 2009 Vauxhall Corsa MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2009 Corsa” means a Vauxhall Corsa whose date of first use falls in 2009 (58, 09 and 59 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2009, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Repair prices are typical UK prices for the job from published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026 — not for this model, and not a quote. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.