2009 Dodge Avenger — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Dodge Avenger passed 70.7% of its 451 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 25.0% of the time, so this is 4.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 17.7% of tests against 14.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, position lamp and tread depth — ball joint alone was recorded 46 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.9% in the 30-60k band and 27.7% in the 150k+ band, a 8.7-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.7% | 80 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 64 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.6% | 57 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 24 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.1% | 23 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.7% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 46 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 36 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 25 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 23 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 19 |
| 6 | Flexible brake hoses | 18 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 36.1% | 163 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.3% | 150 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.1% | 113 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.4% | 83 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 62 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.5% | 52 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 37 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 134 | 26.9% |
| 90-120k | 132 | 34.1% |
| 120-150k | 92 | 32.6% |
| 150k+ | 47 | 27.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 320 | 29.4% |
| Petrol | 131 | 29.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 141 | 27.7% |
| 2022 | 111 | 31.5% |
| 2023 | 92 | 30.4% |
| 2024 | 58 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 49 | 30.6% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Avenger
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 17.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (17.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (14.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2009 Dodge Avengers pass their MOT?
70.7% of the 451 2009 Dodge Avenger MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Dodge Avenger?
Suspension, recorded in 17.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.2%).
Does the 2009 Avenger get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.9% in the 30-60k band to 27.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 451 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.