Honda Civic SE I Vtec (2009)

136 real MOT outcomes analysed • 69.1% first-time pass rate

2009 Honda Civic SE I Vtec

CarHunch analysed 136 real MOT records for the 2009 Honda Civic SE I Vtec. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

This 2009 Civic SE I-VTEC has a first-time MOT pass rate of 69.1%, which trails the UK average of 80% by a notable margin, suggesting these cars tend to need repairs before passing. The good news is that no vehicles in this sample have ever recorded a dangerous defect, so safety-critical failures aren't a pattern here.

At nearly 90,000 miles on the median odometer, these Civics are showing their age with an average of 1.02 failures per vehicle, but virtually no advisories—meaning problems tend to be outright defects rather than early warnings of wear. When you test-drive one, budget for at least one repair before the next MOT, and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the specific failure points that are dragging the pass rate down.

Below average reliability 10.9% below UK average
69.1%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
89,539
typical mileage
74,077–110,062 middle half
0%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.02
avg MOT failures per car
over 6.2 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2009 Honda Civic SE I Vtec

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Honda Civic SE I Vtec

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Other (82%) 111 84.6% 1.25
Petrol (18%) 25 0% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 2009 Honda Civic SE I Vtec vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

74,077
low mileage
89,539
typical
110,062
high mileage

Half of all 2009 Honda Civic SE I Vtec vehicles fall between 74,077 and 110,062 miles.

2009 Honda Civic SE I Vtec — Still on the Road

71 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 70% of the peak remain.

64 71 2017 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2017–2025.

MOT History Averages

6.2
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.02
Avg failures per vehicle
0
Avg advisories per vehicle

Found a specific Honda Civic SE I Vtec?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Honda Civic SE I Vtec:

2006 2007 2008