2009 Dodge Nitro — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,866 MOT tests, the 2009 Dodge Nitro recorded a 70.6% pass rate. That is 3.2 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 26.2%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (20.7%) and lighting & signalling (18.6%) 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 305 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 25.5% in the 30-60k band and 33.6% in the 150k+ band, a 8.1-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 27.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 20.7% | 592 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 532 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.2% | 321 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.0% | 143 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 125 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.9% | 112 |
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) | 305 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 269 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 189 |
| 4 | Parking brake performance | 157 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 151 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 145 |
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 | 27.0% | 775 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.5% | 759 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.0% | 660 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 428 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.9% | 283 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.3% | 266 |
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 | 255 | 25.5% |
| 60-90k | 957 | 28.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,036 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 458 | 32.8% |
| 150k+ | 143 | 33.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 683 | 30.4% |
| 2022 | 658 | 29.6% |
| 2023 | 575 | 27.8% |
| 2024 | 514 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 436 | 30.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Nitro
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 20.7% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (20.7% 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 (18.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.2% 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 Nitros pass their MOT?
70.6% of the 2,866 2009 Dodge Nitro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Dodge Nitro?
Brakes, recorded in 20.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.6%).
Does the 2009 Nitro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.5% in the 30-60k band to 33.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,866 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.