2009 Volkswagen Tiguan MOT pass rate: 67.7% (18,054 tests)
Is the 2009 Tiguan getting worse?
Pass rate of 2009-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 68.5% +1.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 68.8% +2.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 65.8% -0.3 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2009 Tiguan
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6,976 | 44.1% |
| 2 | Tyres | 2,194 | 13.9% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,851 | 11.7% |
| 4 | Brakes | 1,538 | 9.7% |
| 5 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 1,034 | 6.5% |
| 6 | Body, chassis, structure | 946 | 6.0% |
All Tiguan years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 12,350 | 68.0% | +2.9 pts | 127,553 |
| 2009 (this page) | 18,054 | 67.7% | +1.4 pts | 120,172 |
| 2010 | 19,730 | 68.0% | +0.7 pts | 115,041 |
| 2011 | 20,155 | 70.0% | +0.8 pts | 109,651 |
| 2012 | 26,796 | 72.2% | +1.0 pts | 100,845 |
| 2013 | 36,494 | 76.3% | +3.0 pts | 89,743 |
| 2014 | 45,579 | 77.9% | +2.1 pts | 80,861 |
| 2015 | 59,196 | 81.0% | +2.3 pts | 73,575 |
| 2016 | 55,132 | 86.2% | +4.8 pts | 66,650 |
| 2017 | 78,138 | 88.7% | +4.7 pts | 59,942 |
| 2018 | 86,788 | 88.8% | +2.4 pts | 49,868 |
| 2019 | 46,040 | 89.8% | +1.4 pts | 40,206 |
| 2020 | 27,471 | 90.0% | +0.1 pts | 32,406 |
| 2021 | 10,895 | 88.6% | -1.8 pts | 32,883 |
| 2022 | 2,821 | 88.4% | -2.8 pts | 28,185 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Volkswagen Tiguan years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?
2009-registered examples passed 67.7% of their MOT tests (18,054 tests, 2023–2025), +1.4 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 17 years old with a median 120,172 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2009 Tiguan?
The median tested example shows 120,172 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2009 Tiguan?
In this cohort petrols pass 71.2% of tests against 67.5% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.