Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2009 Chevrolet Cruze?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2009 Chevrolet Cruze?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2009 Chevrolet Cruze?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2009 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

36% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2009 Chevrolet Cruze reliable?

Based on MOT data from 721 vehicles, the 2009 Chevrolet Cruze has a first-time MOT pass rate of 74.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2009 Chevrolet Cruze?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2009 Chevrolet Cruze are: Oil leak, but not excessive (71.9% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (43.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (39% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2009 Chevrolet Cruze?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Chevrolet Cruze (2009)

721 real MOT outcomes analysed • 74.5% first-time pass rate

2009 Chevrolet Cruze

CarHunch analysed 721 real MOT records for the 2009 Chevrolet Cruze. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2009 Chevrolet Cruze falls noticeably short of the UK average first-time pass rate at 74.5% versus 80%, which suggests more frequent MOT visits than most cars of this age. More concerning is that 35.9% of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects at some point, well above the threshold that should trigger caution in a buyer.

At 61,569 miles average, this Cruze cohort shows typical mileage for a 15-year-old car, but the vehicles that do come through MOT are racking up 3.54 failures each and 16.4 advisories—indicating electrical, suspension, and emissions systems need close attention. Before purchasing, ask for the full MOT history and get an independent pre-purchase inspection, particularly focusing on those dangerous defect categories.

The 2009 Chevrolet Cruze has a below-average first-time pass rate (74.5% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

74.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

35.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.54

Over 13 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

54k

Middle half: 40k–68k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 16.4 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 721 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 721 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 71.9%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread

Tyre wear 43.9%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 32.5%

Offside Rear coil spring broken · Nearside Rear coil spring broken · Offside Rear Coil spring corroded · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Brake wear 24.6%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2009.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 721 Chevrolet Cruze cars.

Before you buy a 2009 Chevrolet Cruze

Based on MOT data from 721 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 35.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (69%)	496	74.5%	3.58
Diesel (31%)	224	74.4%	3.43

Colour Breakdown

Based on 8,391 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 25.7%

2,155

Silver 23%

1,929

Blue 19.3%

1,617

Grey 18.3%

1,536

Red 7.7%

646

White 5.2%

435

Brown 0.8%

Beige 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2009 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

54,321

typical

40,228

low mileage

67,827

high mileage

Half of all 2009 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles fall between 40,228 and 67,827 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 40,228 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 40,228–67,827 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2009 Chevrolet Cruzes sit.

⚠ Over 91,566 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2009 Chevrolet Cruze — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 26% of 2009 Chevrolet Cruzes are still active.

Numbers are declining — 176 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (26% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.54

Avg failures per vehicle

16.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Chevrolet Cruze: All Cruze years → Which year to buy? →

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Or browse all models: Chevrolet →

Compare with another model

See how the 2009 Chevrolet Cruze stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on