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

In 2025, 52.0% of Vauxhall Tigras first used in 2009 passed their MOT first time, against 58.3% for all cars first used in 2009. Across 4,556 Tigra first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were suspension, brakes and lamps and electrical equipment.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Vauxhall Tigras 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
52.0%
of 1,282 first tests; all cars first used in 2009: 58.3%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
4,556
first tests, 2023–2025; 1,282 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
18.4%
of 1,282 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
69,500
middle half: 53,000–88,500 miles; all cars first used in 2009: 100,000

How the 2009 Vauxhall Tigra MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Tigras 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 Tigra figure was 6.3 points lower.

2009 TigraAll 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 Tigra, test year 2021: 52.9%2009 Tigra, test year 2022: 54.2%2009 Tigra, test year 2023: 51.1%2009 Tigra, test year 2024: 54%2009 Tigra, test year 2025: 52%58.3%52%
View this chart as a table
Test year2009 TigraAll cars first used 2009Tigra first tests
202152.9%60.5%2,184
202254.2%60.1%1,992
202351.1%59.0%1,771
202454.0%58.4%1,503
202552.0%58.3%1,282

Common 2009 Vauxhall Tigra MOT failures

Share of the 2,173 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%.

Suspension41.7%
Brakes40.7%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment36.2%
Tyres21.4%
Visibility16.2%
Body, chassis, structure14.5%
Noise, emissions and leaks12.5%
Steering10.3%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Parking brake efficiency (sp): efficiency below requirements18.3%397
Coil spring: fractured or broken17.0%369
Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play8.1%177
Ball joint: excessively worn7.0%153
Position lamp: not working7.0%153

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 Tigra in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Coil spring: fractured or brokenCoil spring replacement£248£175–£400
Ball joint: excessively wornBall joint replacement£90£60–£150

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 Tigra before buying

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

  1. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  2. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.
  3. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.

Common 2009 Vauxhall Tigra MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2009 Tigras, as a share of all 4,556 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases16.9%768
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge16.0%727
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened13.8%629
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing13.4%611
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive13.3%606

Questions about the 2009 Vauxhall Tigra MOT

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

In 2025, 52.0% of Tigras 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 Tigra most often fail its MOT on?

Suspension (in 41.7% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), brakes (40.7%) and lamps and electrical equipment (36.2%). The single most common item was “Parking brake efficiency (sp): efficiency below requirements” (18.3%).

How often does a 2009 Vauxhall Tigra fail its MOT?

In 2025, 48.0% of first tests on Tigras first used in 2009 did not pass first time: 41.3% failed, and a further 6.7% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 2,173 of 4,556 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2009 Vauxhall Tigra MOT advisories?

“Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases” (on 16.9% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (16.0%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (13.8%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (13.4%) and “Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (13.3%).

Is a 2009 Vauxhall Tigra 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 52.9% in 2021 to 52.0% 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 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2009 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2009 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics

How the 2009 Vauxhall Tigra 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 Tigra” means a Vauxhall Tigra 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.