Used car guide

2009 Volkswagen Jetta diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Volkswagen Jetta first registered in 2009 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 2,373 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,373MOTs of 2009 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
62%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 59%)
8,000typical miles a year
3.3×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta diesel than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints3.3× usual
    Volkswagen Jetta
    15.9% All 2009 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.1%, against 2.3% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Headlights2.4× usual
    Volkswagen Jetta
    16.3% All 2009 cars
    6.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.6%, against 3.7% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Suspension arm3.4× usual
    Volkswagen Jetta
    10.5% All 2009 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.4% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Link ball joint covers2.1× usual
    Volkswagen Jetta
    6.2% All 2009 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 1.6% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Side repeaters2.6× usual
    Volkswagen Jetta
    3.6% All 2009 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 0.9% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.1% here, against 7.1% of all 2009 cars. Exhaust system: 2.2% here, against 7.9% of all 2009 cars.

Common 2009 Volkswagen Jetta diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2009 Volkswagen Jetta diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    48% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    34% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    34% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    27% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    16% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the suspension arm? (Flagged at MOT 3.4× as often on the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volkswagen Jetta?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Volkswagen Jetta compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2018–Too few tests
20171,046Tyres 27%
20162,272Tyres 28%
20153,337Tyres 29%
20142,923Suspension 34%
20133,127Suspension 37%
20123,487Suspension 41%
20112,697Suspension 43%
20101,968Suspension 42%
20084,660Suspension 49%
20076,177Suspension 50%
20064,371Suspension 48%
2005–Too few tests
1992–Too few tests
1991173Brakes 35%
1990158Suspension 25%
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–Too few tests
1982–Too few tests
1981–Too few tests
1980–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Volkswagen Jetta cars first registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score