2009 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 633,348 MOT tests, the 2009 Ford Fiesta recorded a 73.1% pass rate. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (26.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.8%) and suspension (14.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, stop lamp and position lamp — ball joint alone was recorded 50,215 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.0% in the 0-30k band and 32.0% in the 150k+ band, a 19.1-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 26.1% fail against 30.0% for diesel, a 4.0-point gap across 633,342 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 106,540 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.8% | 93,933 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.4% | 46,988 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.4% | 34,262 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 29,302 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.0% | 25,539 |
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 | 50,215 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 38,316 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 36,358 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 28,903 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 28,111 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 23,524 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 29.5% | 186,624 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.2% | 184,991 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.4% | 135,582 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.0% | 94,723 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 63,223 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.4% | 53,161 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 18,270 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 101,442 | 19.4% |
| 60-90k | 205,632 | 26.3% |
| 90-120k | 188,762 | 30.0% |
| 120-150k | 86,653 | 31.6% |
| 150k+ | 31,953 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 493,827 | 26.1% |
| Diesel | 139,515 | 30.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 135,040 | 25.7% |
| 2022 | 133,158 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 129,746 | 27.2% |
| 2024 | 122,662 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 112,742 | 28.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Fiesta
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.8% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (14.8% 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.
- Tyres (7.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 Ford Fiestas pass their MOT?
73.1% of the 633,348 2009 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Ford Fiesta?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.8% of tests, followed by suspension (14.8%).
Does the 2009 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 32.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 633,348 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.