2009 Vauxhall Meriva 1.4L Petrol · CA59 CDF
2009 Vauxhall Meriva (1.4L, petrol). First registered 27 Nov 2009. Recorded mileage 131,287 miles. MOT valid until 05 Apr 2027. Taxed until 01 Apr 2027.
- Make & Model
- VAUXHALL MERIVA
- Year / Origin
- 2009 · Cardiff
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Valid until 05 Apr 2027
- Road Tax
- Taxed (01 Apr 2027)
- Recorded Mileage
- 131,287 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- ULEZ Compliant (Euro 4+)
- Fuel & Engine
- Petrol · 1.4L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
AI-generated interpretation of this vehicle’s MOT record — not an official statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
Thinking of buying this vehicle? Free MOT and tax checks do not cover legal ownership. If outstanding finance exists, finance companies have legal right to repossess without compensation.
CA59 CDF Key Findings
- 5 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 04/04/2026
- 131,287 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 1 historical MOT failure
- 5 defects noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring brakes items (8 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
CA59 CDF MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
5 MOT tests are recorded for this 2009 Vauxhall Meriva (CA59 CDF) between April 2023 and April 2026.
The record contains 4 passes and 1 failure.
The most recent test on 04 April 2026 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 1 failure that buyers may want to investigate.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Brakes (8 issues), Suspension (7 issues), Lighting (6 issues), Steering (6 issues), Exhaust & Emissions (2 issues). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 34 advisory notices are recorded. Advisories flag items that passed but may need attention before the next test; they are not evidence of how well the vehicle has been serviced.
Recorded failure items include: “Front Registration plate inscription illegible (0.1 (b))”.
CA59 CDF Mileage History
- 07/04/202395,488 mi
- 15/03/2024105,807 mi+10,319 mi
- 28/03/2025121,054 mi+15,247 mi
- 30/03/2026131,283 mi+10,229 mi
- 04/04/2026131,287 mi+4 mi
Average of roughly 11,963 miles per year across 5 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
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MOT Roadworthiness: Good
This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.
Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.
Buyer's Guide & Inspection Advisory
Expert automotive synthesis from historical MOT defect records and market benchmarks.
Our Verdict
Approach with significant caution. This
Any negotiation should account for the fact that the seller has already had one MOT fail on this car in the same month as the most recent pass, indicating genuine work was needed to get it through. Insist on seeing receipts for what was actually repaired between the 30 March and 4 April tests, as several of the items flagged (anti-roll bar ball joint play, steering rack play, rear coil spring corrosion and oil leak) are listed identically on both records, which raises questions about what was actually remedied. Budget realistically for replacement rear coil springs, front brake discs and likely steering rack attention, as these items have been repeatedly flagged over three consecutive tests and are unlikely to resolve on their own.
A pre-purchase inspection by an independent garage is strongly advised given the under-chassis corrosion advisory from 2025 and the pattern of wear items recurring year on year. Check the headlight lens condition closely, as this was noted as deteriorated on the latest test, and inspect the rear exhaust mountings since broken hangars were flagged back in 2023. With annual mileage roughly double the model average, also verify service history evidence (which MOT records alone cannot establish) and confirm timing chain or belt intervals have been observed for the 1.4-litre petrol engine.
The 1.4-litre petrol Meriva typically returns around 38-44 mpg in real-world driving, with a fuel cost of perhaps £1,400-£1,700 per year at this sort of mileage. Road tax for a 2009 petrol of this engine size sits in a moderate band, and insurance is generally affordable, typically landing in groups 6-8. However, the realistic concern here is maintenance: with brake discs, coil springs, steering components and exhaust mountings all repeatedly flagged, a buyer should budget £500-£900 per year in wear-and-tear repairs alone on top of routine servicing.
Overall annual running costs, factoring in fuel, tax, insurance, routine maintenance and the kind of corrective repairs this MOT history implies, are likely to fall in the £1,600-£2,200 range. This is noticeably higher than a typical Meriva of this vintage and should be priced into any offer you make.
Begin with a thorough test drive focusing on the steering, as play in the steering rack inner joints has appeared in the 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 tests. Any clonking, vagueness or uneven self-centring on the road strongly suggests the rack needs replacement, which is a £300-£500 job on this model. Also check the front anti-roll bar linkage ball joints by hand for play, as this caused the only outright fail item in March 2026 aside from plate legibility, and listen for knocking over speed bumps.
Next, get the vehicle on a ramp and inspect the rear coil springs for corrosion, as both sides have been flagged repeatedly and corrosion here will eventually lead to failure and an MOT fail. Inspect the front brake discs for lip and corrosion, and budget for replacement if they are pitted as repeatedly noted. Check for oil leaks from the engine and gearbox area given the recurring oil leak advisory, examine the exhaust system hangers and mounts, and look underneath for the chassis corrosion noted in 2025 — surface corrosion is one thing, but structural corrosion around suspension mountings could be a deal-breaker. Finally, verify both number plates are legible and the headlight lenses are not so cloudy that they would cause a future fail.
This red 1.4-litre petrol Vauxhall Meriva, first registered in November 2009, has covered 131,287 miles across five recorded MOT tests spanning 2023 to 2026. The most recent test on 2026-04-04 was a pass, but it followed a fail just five days earlier on 2026-03-30, with several items repeatedly flagging across multiple tests including steering rack play, brake disc corrosion and rear coil spring corrosion. Annual mileage of roughly 12,000 miles is more than double the model average of 5,627, and the accumulation of chassis corrosion advisories points to a vehicle nearing the end of its practical service life.
Across 114,491 Vauxhall Meriva MOT records analysed, the average pass rate is 76.2% and the most common failure reasons are brake pads, coil springs and washer issues, all of which align with the wear patterns seen on this specific vehicle.
Reviewed by the IsItAGoodCar editorial team — Verified automotive analysis synthesized from official vehicle registries.
Data Sources
DVSA
Official MOT test logs & failure reasons
DVLA
Tax, registration & powertrain specs
Experian
Finance, stolen markers & total loss
AI Analysis
Historical fault & advisory patterns
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