2009 Dodge Nitro Sxt Crd A — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 608 MOT tests, the 2009 Dodge Nitro Sxt Crd A recorded a 74.8% pass rate. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (25.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (18.4%) and lighting & signalling (16.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), position lamp and ball joint — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 66 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.3% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 26.7% once past 150k — 2.9× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 26.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.3% in 2021 to 21.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 18.4% | 112 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 102 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.4% | 51 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.1% | 31 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.4% | 27 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 66 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 51 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 43 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 41 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 28 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 28 |
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 | 26.8% | 163 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.0% | 146 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.0% | 134 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 79 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.2% | 68 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.7% | 59 |
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 | 43 | 9.3% |
| 60-90k | 221 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 212 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 83 | 28.9% |
| 150k+ | 45 | 26.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 136 | 24.3% |
| 2022 | 140 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 127 | 26.0% |
| 2024 | 113 | 24.8% |
| 2025 | 92 | 21.7% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Nitro Sxt Crd A
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 18.4% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (18.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (16.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.4% 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.
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 Nitro Sxt Crd As pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 608 2009 Dodge Nitro Sxt Crd A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Dodge Nitro Sxt Crd A?
Brakes, recorded in 18.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.8%).
Does the 2009 Nitro Sxt Crd A get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 30-60k band to 26.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 608 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.