Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2009 Toyota Vitz?

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 Toyota Vitz?

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 Toyota Vitz?

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.

Is the 2009 Toyota Vitz reliable?

Based on MOT data from 104 vehicles, the 2009 Toyota Vitz has a first-time MOT pass rate of 86.4%, 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 Toyota Vitz?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2009 Toyota Vitz are: Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (29.1% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (28.4% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (27.7% 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 Toyota Vitz?

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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Toyota Vitz (2009)

104 real MOT outcomes analysed • 86.4% first-time pass rate

2009 Toyota Vitz

CarHunch analysed 104 real MOT records for the 2009 Toyota Vitz. 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 Compare Models

The 2009 Toyota Vitz is a reliably robust performer, passing its MOT on the first attempt 86.4% of the time—comfortably above the UK average of 80%—with only 14.4% of vehicles ever recording a dangerous defect, which is a reassuring figure. This is a genuinely low-risk buy from a safety perspective.

At 57,166 miles average, these Vitzes have been driven fairly hard for their age, yet still deliver modest failure rates of just 0.95 per vehicle and 3.4 advisories, suggesting the model tolerates higher mileage without falling apart. When shopping for one, check the service history carefully and budget for minor wear-and-tear items, but don't be put off by mileage alone—this generation's engineering is genuinely forgiving.

We have limited data for the 2009 Toyota Vitz — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

86.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

14.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.95

Over 5.3 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

51k

Middle half: 38k–72k

For context

These stats describe 104 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.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 104 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 29.1%

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

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

Brake wear 13.5%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Suspension & steering 12.8%

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated · Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated · Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated · …

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

Other issues 8.1%

Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated · Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated

Lighting 6.8%

Rear fog lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

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 104 Toyota Vitz cars.

Before you buy a 2009 Toyota Vitz

Based on MOT data from 104 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 14.4% 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 (99%)	103	86.3%	0.96

Mileage Distribution

Most 2009 Toyota Vitz 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.

51,429

typical

37,991

low mileage

71,852

high mileage

Half of all 2009 Toyota Vitz vehicles fall between 37,991 and 71,852 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 37,991 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.

✓ 37,991–71,852 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2009 Toyota Vitzs sit.

⚠ Over 97,000 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2009 Toyota Vitz — Still on the Road

Almost all 2009 Toyota Vitzs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 88 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* 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

5.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.95

Avg failures per vehicle

3.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Toyota Vitz: All Vitz years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2009 Toyota Vitz stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?