2009 Dodge Journey — MOT failures & pass rate
2,182 MOT tests on the 2009 Dodge Journey are in this dataset, and 69.6% of them passed. That is 3.7 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 26.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.5%) and suspension (16.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, position lamp and track rod end — ball joint alone was recorded 272 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 33.1% versus 24.9%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 29.7% of the time against 30.6% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.5% | 404 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.5% | 361 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.4% | 336 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.6% | 167 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.1% | 112 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.8% | 104 |
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 | 272 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 188 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 159 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 156 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 152 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 128 |
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 | 35.9% | 783 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.9% | 696 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.2% | 593 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.1% | 265 |
| 5 | Steering | 11.1% | 242 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.0% | 217 |
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 | 169 | 24.9% |
| 60-90k | 652 | 29.1% |
| 90-120k | 782 | 30.9% |
| 120-150k | 433 | 32.3% |
| 150k+ | 118 | 33.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,654 | 30.6% |
| Petrol | 528 | 29.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 692 | 31.4% |
| 2022 | 531 | 29.0% |
| 2023 | 443 | 30.9% |
| 2024 | 318 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 198 | 30.3% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Journey
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.5% 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.
- Brakes (15.4% 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 Journeys pass their MOT?
69.6% of the 2,182 2009 Dodge Journey MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Dodge Journey?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.5% of tests, followed by suspension (16.5%).
Does the 2009 Journey get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.9% in the 30-60k band to 33.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,182 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.