2009 Vauxhall Meriva 1.2L Diesel · DA09 XFP
2009 Vauxhall Meriva (1.2L, diesel). First registered 31 Jul 2009. Recorded mileage 72,982 miles. MOT expired on 08 Dec 2022.
- Make & Model
- VAUXHALL MERIVA
- Year / Origin
- 2009 · Chester
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Expired on 08 Dec 2022
- Road Tax
- Untaxed (01 Apr 2022)
- Recorded Mileage
- 72,982 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Non-Compliant (Pre-Euro 6 Diesel)
- Fuel & Engine
- Diesel · 1.2L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
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.
DA09 XFP Key Findings
- 2 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 09/12/2021
- 72,982 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 1 historical MOT failure
- 2 defects noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring brakes items (3 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
DA09 XFP MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
2 MOT tests are recorded for this 2009 Vauxhall Meriva (DA09 XFP) between December 2021 and December 2021.
The record contains 1 pass and 1 failure.
The most recent test on 09 December 2021 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 (3 issues), Tyres (2 issues). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 4 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: “Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))”; “Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm both (5.2.3 (e))”; “Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))”.
DA09 XFP Mileage History
- 08/12/202172,982 mi
- 09/12/202172,982 mi
Average of roughly 0 miles per year across 2 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
Diagnostic & Valuation Intelligence
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Known faults for Vauxhall Vauxhall Meriva
Our database tracks 6 specific mechanical faults and recurring failure patterns identified across UK MOT testing stations for this generation.
MOT Roadworthiness: Poor
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
Exercise significant caution. The vehicl
The most urgent priority is to establish the vehicle's current MOT status and why it has not been tested since December 2021. A car that has been stationary for several years may suffer from perished tyres, seized brakes, and degraded fluids. You should request a full service history to see if any maintenance was performed during the gap in MOT records.
Negotiate the price based on the likely cost of bringing the vehicle back to a roadworthy standard. Pay close attention to the brake system and engine seals, as these were highlighted as problem areas in the final recorded MOT test.
The 1.3L diesel engine is generally economical, providing lower fuel costs compared to petrol equivalents of the same era. As a 2009 model, it will fall into a standard tax bracket for its age and engine size, and insurance groups for the Meriva are typically modest.
However, maintenance costs may be higher than average due to the vehicle's age and the potential for neglect during the five-year MOT gap. Expect to spend more on initial recommissioning, including a full service and potentially new tyres and brake components.
Carefully inspect the rear brake pipes for corrosion, as both the offside and nearside rear pipes were flagged as corroded or excessively corroded in December 2021. Check the engine bay and underside for signs of the oil leak noted in the last MOT record to see if it has been rectified or worsened.
Inspect all four tyres for cracking or flat spots if the car has been sitting, noting that the 2021 MOT failed on tread depth for the nearside front and both rear tyres. Finally, check for general chassis rust, which often accompanies the type of brake pipe corrosion seen in this vehicle's history.
This silver 2009 Vauxhall Meriva 1.3 diesel has a recorded mileage of 72,982 miles as of December 2021. There are no MOT records available for the last five years, which represents a substantial risk for a potential buyer. The last recorded test in 2021 showed failures related to corroded brake pipes and worn tyres.
No aggregate reliability data is available for the Vauxhall Meriva to provide a model-wide comparison.
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
Common Problems: VAUXHALL MERIVA
Known issues reported by owners and MOT testers.
- Front-end knocking from worn steering rack, joints and dampers(Moderate)
BreakerYard's Meriva fault page describes a knocking noise from the suspension over uneven surfaces that is actually caused by the steering rack, and warns that leaving a worn rack unreplaced damages the surrounding suspension. GetCarWise's Meriva MOT data backs up the front-end story with the numbers: ball joint dust cover failures at close to 40 times the fleet average, shock absorber failures at around 32 times, with joints quoted at £100-£300 per corner and damper pairs at £200-£400. On a tall, front-heavy MPV built on supermini parts, these are the consumables that decide whether a cheap Meriva stays cheap.
- Power steering assistance failure and rack or column wear(Serious)
BreakerYard lists power steering failure as a known Meriva problem, saying the assist can go and make the car very hard to manoeuvre, that in some cases the steering has jammed, and that the repair is a new steering rack and column rather than a component rebuild. GetCarWise's Meriva buying guide prices the assist-side hardware at £300-£600 for a pump and £150-£300 for hoses, which is why a car with heavy steering in the forecourt test is rarely worth the advertised price. Loss of assistance at parking speeds is a safety issue as well as a bill.
- Brake hose ferrule excessive corrosion and hydraulic leakage(Serious)
The first-generation Meriva exhibits one of the highest failure rates in the UK vehicle fleet for brake hose ferrule corrosion, failing MOT inspections at up to 67 times the national average according to GetCarWise. The crimped steel ferrules connecting the flexible rubber brake hoses to the rigid steel brake pipes suffer severe galvanic corrosion from road salt and moisture spray in the wheel arches. As the metal scales and expands, it weakens the hose connection, eventually causing brake fluid seepage or sudden hose separation under heavy braking, resulting in partial or total loss of hydraulic braking.
- Underside solid steel brake pipe corrosion(Serious)
Rigid steel brake lines running along the underside floor pan and over the rear axle beam of the Meriva A suffer accelerated corrosion. The original factory plastic coating cracks and traps winter road salt and water against the bare steel tubing. According to DVSA MOT statistics tracked by GetCarWise, the Meriva fails brake pipe inspections at 28 to 32 times the fleet average. Corroded sections can pinhole or rupture under sudden emergency braking pressure, causing immediate loss of brake fluid and catastrophic loss of stopping power. Complete replacement with cupro-nickel (Kunifer) pipes is standard practice.
- Suspension ball joint and CV joint dust cover splits(Moderate)
The rubber boots and dust covers protecting front lower suspension ball joints, track rod ends, and constant velocity (CV) driveshaft joints perish and tear prematurely on the Meriva A. GetCarWise reports MOT failure rates for split dust covers on this model approaching 40 times the UK fleet benchmark. Once the rubber split occurs, grease is flung out and road spray, grit, and abrasive sand penetrate the precision ball pin or CV joint races. This causes rapid metal-to-metal wear, play, steering shudder, and clicking on lock, necessitating complete joint replacement.
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- Front-end knocking from worn steering rack, joints and dampersModerate
BreakerYard's Meriva fault page describes a knocking noise from the suspension over uneven surfaces that is actually caused by the steering rack, and warns that leaving a worn rack unreplaced damages the surrounding suspension. GetCarWise's Meriva MOT data backs up the front-end story with the numbers: ball joint dust cover failures at close to 40 times the fleet average, shock absorber failures at around 32 times, with joints quoted at £100-£300 per corner and damper pairs at £200-£400. On a tall, front-heavy MPV built on supermini parts, these are the consumables that decide whether a cheap Meriva stays cheap.
- Power steering assistance failure and rack or column wearSerious
BreakerYard lists power steering failure as a known Meriva problem, saying the assist can go and make the car very hard to manoeuvre, that in some cases the steering has jammed, and that the repair is a new steering rack and column rather than a component rebuild. GetCarWise's Meriva buying guide prices the assist-side hardware at £300-£600 for a pump and £150-£300 for hoses, which is why a car with heavy steering in the forecourt test is rarely worth the advertised price. Loss of assistance at parking speeds is a safety issue as well as a bill.
- Brake hose ferrule excessive corrosion and hydraulic leakageSerious
The first-generation Meriva exhibits one of the highest failure rates in the UK vehicle fleet for brake hose ferrule corrosion, failing MOT inspections at up to 67 times the national average according to GetCarWise. The crimped steel ferrules connecting the flexible rubber brake hoses to the rigid steel brake pipes suffer severe galvanic corrosion from road salt and moisture spray in the wheel arches. As the metal scales and expands, it weakens the hose connection, eventually causing brake fluid seepage or sudden hose separation under heavy braking, resulting in partial or total loss of hydraulic braking.
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