Vauxhall Astra 2009: reliability & common MOT faults
Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2009 Vauxhall Astra include Swivel pins and bushes (rear) (~7.6× peers) and Electrical equipment — Horn (~6.5× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (13,416 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.
Common faults
These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).
Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.
Based on 13,416 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.
Swivel pins and bushes (rear)
This failure pattern appears about 7.6× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 440 failed first-attempt tests; 3.3% of failed tests for this model year.
Rear · 440 failures · ×7.6 vs similar cars · 3.3% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
Electrical equipment — Horn
This failure pattern appears about 6.5× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 888 failed first-attempt tests; 6.6% of failed tests for this model year.
Any · 888 failures · ×6.5 vs similar cars · 6.6% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
| # | Fault pattern | Location | Failures | vs similar cars | Share of fails | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Swivel pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Axles > Swivel pins and bushes
|
Rear | 440 | ×7.6 | 3.3% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 2 |
Electrical equipment — Horn
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Electrical equipment > Horn
|
Any | 888 | ×6.5 | 6.6% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 3 |
Coil spring (front)
Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Coil spring
|
Front | 2,183 | ×2.6 | 16.3% | Possible elevated fault |
| 4 |
Exhaust system (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
|
Front | 320 | ×2.2 | 2.4% | Possible elevated fault |
| 5 |
Coil spring (rear)
Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Coil spring
|
Rear | 1,144 | ×2.2 | 8.5% | Possible elevated fault |
| 6 |
Emissions not tested
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Spark ignition > Emissions not tested
|
Any | 433 | ×2.1 | 3.2% | Possible elevated fault |
Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).
Wear patterns
These patterns look like wear or usage effects rather than model-specific design faults. Tyres, brake friction material, and alignment-related defects often track mileage and road use. They are not treated as a model design fault in our common-faults ranking.
| # | Pattern | Location | Failures | vs similar cars | Share of fails | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Brake discs
Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake discs and drums > Brake discs
|
Any | 21 | ×2.9 | 0.2% | Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault |
| 2 |
Brake discs (rear)
Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake discs and drums > Brake discs
|
Rear | 357 | ×2.5 | 2.7% | Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault |
Advisories
Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.
| # | Advisory pattern | Location | Notes | vs similar cars | Share | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas (front)
Suspension > Sub-frames > Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas
|
Front | 607 | ×13.1 | 4.5% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 2 |
Swivel pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Axles > Swivel pins and bushes
|
Rear | 906 | ×6.5 | 6.8% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 3 |
Swivel pins and bushes
Suspension > Axles > Swivel pins and bushes
|
Any | 53 | ×6.4 | 0.4% | Elevated vs peers |
| 4 |
Pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Other suspension component > Pins and bushes
|
Rear | 112 | ×5.5 | 0.8% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 5 |
Pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Sub-frames > Pins and bushes
|
Rear | 205 | ×5.1 | 1.5% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 6 |
Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas
Suspension > Sub-frames > Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas
|
Any | 38 | ×4.0 | 0.3% | Elevated vs peers |
| 7 |
Suspension arm (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Suspension arm
|
Front | 726 | ×2.9 | 5.4% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 8 |
Engine oil leaks
Noise, emissions and leaks > Fluid leaks > Engine oil leaks
|
Any | 3,853 | ×2.7 | 28.7% | Likely common fault pattern |
FAQs
About this data
Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.
PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.
Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).
Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.
Limitations.
- MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
- Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
- Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
- Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.
Display rules config: 1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.