2009 Dodge Caliber — MOT failures & pass rate
1,100 MOT tests on the 2009 Dodge Caliber are in this dataset, and 65.0% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 25.0% of the time, so this is 10.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (22.8%) and lighting & signalling (20.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, position lamp and ball joint — pins and bushes alone was recorded 150 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 39.2% versus 25.4%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 51.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 34.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 37.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 22.8% | 251 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 20.2% | 222 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.8% | 141 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.4% | 92 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.8% | 86 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 7.4% | 81 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 150 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 113 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 110 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 104 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 77 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 73 |
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 | 51.8% | 570 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.0% | 352 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.2% | 321 |
| 4 | Other defects | 13.6% | 149 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 98 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 89 |
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 | 177 | 25.4% |
| 60-90k | 436 | 35.5% |
| 90-120k | 298 | 39.3% |
| 120-150k | 153 | 39.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 629 | 37.8% |
| Petrol | 471 | 31.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 333 | 34.8% |
| 2022 | 277 | 35.0% |
| 2023 | 221 | 34.4% |
| 2024 | 158 | 34.2% |
| 2025 | 111 | 37.8% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Caliber
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 22.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (22.8% 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 (20.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.8% 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 Calibers pass their MOT?
65.0% of the 1,100 2009 Dodge Caliber MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 35.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Dodge Caliber?
Suspension, recorded in 22.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (20.2%).
Does the 2009 Caliber get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.4% in the 30-60k band to 39.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,100 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.