Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2009 Yamaha Mt 03?

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 Yamaha Mt 03?

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 Yamaha Mt 03?

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 Yamaha Mt 03 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 106 vehicles, the 2009 Yamaha Mt 03 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.5%, 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 Yamaha Mt 03?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2009 Yamaha Mt 03 are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (59.8% of vehicles), Drive chain slightly loose (57.8% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (48.9% 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 Yamaha Mt 03?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Yamaha Mt 03 (2009)

106 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.5% first-time pass rate

2009 Yamaha Mt 03

CarHunch analysed 106 real MOT records for the 2009 Yamaha Mt 03. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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 MT-03's 76.9% first-time pass rate sits slightly below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these bikes need a bit more attention than typical vehicles—though the 18.9% rate of dangerous defects isn't alarming enough to be a dealbreaker. The low median mileage of just 10,050 miles indicates these machines have been gently used, which is a positive sign for their long-term durability.

With an average of 1.08 failures per vehicle and 4.7 advisories, most issues are manageable wear items rather than serious structural problems. Before buying one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the braking and suspension systems, which typically account for the advisory flags on this model.

We have limited data for the 2009 Yamaha Mt 03 — 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

88.5%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

18.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.08

Over 8.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

10k

Middle half: 7k–14k

For context

These stats describe 106 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 106 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 59.8%

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm · …

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

Lighting 57.8%

Drive chain slightly loose · Headlamp aim too high · Rear position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on

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

Exhaust & emissions 42.7%

Exhaust noisy

Brake wear 22.7%

Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Front Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · …

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

Other issues 22%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Drive chain excessively loose

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 106 Yamaha Mt 03 cars.

Before you buy a 2009 Yamaha Mt 03

Based on MOT data from 106 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 18.9% 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 (98%)	104	88.3%	1.11

Mileage Distribution

Most 2009 Yamaha Mt 03 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.

10,050

typical

6,593

low mileage

14,485

high mileage

Half of all 2009 Yamaha Mt 03 vehicles fall between 6,593 and 14,485 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 6,593 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.

✓ 6,593–14,485 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2009 Yamaha Mt 03s sit.

⚠ Over 19,554 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2009 Yamaha Mt 03 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 50% of 2009 Yamaha Mt 03s are still active.

36 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 50% of the peak remain.

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

8.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.08

Avg failures per vehicle

4.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Yamaha Mt 03: All Mt 03 years → Which year to buy? →

2006 2007 2008

Or browse all models: Yamaha →

Compare with another model

See how the 2009 Yamaha Mt 03 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?