2009 · 15 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2009 Volkswagen Passat MOT pass rate and common faults

11,039 MOT tests in 2024. 63.9% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

109Well above average
Passed first time63.9%
Failed or needed repairs36.1%
Typical mileage at test139,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 11,039 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.5%
  2. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction5.2%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm4.2%
    767 marked dangerous
  4. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed4.1%
    708 marked dangerous
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.1%
  6. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.7%
  7. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.4%
  8. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.3%
    324 marked dangerous
  9. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn2.3%
  10. Side repeaters: not working2.1%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension20.3%
  2. Lights & electrics13.2%
  3. Tyres11.9%
  4. Brakes8.3%
  5. Emissions & leaks8.2%
  6. Body & chassis7.0%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.2%
  8. Steering1.3%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm25.3%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn21.1%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened13.0%
  4. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened10.1%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.6%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2009 Volkswagen Passat?

In 2024, 63.9% of 2009 Volkswagen Passat cars passed their MOT first time, across 11,039 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2009 Volkswagen Passat?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2009 Volkswagen Passat reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 109, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).