2009 Ford Freda — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Ford Freda passed 66.8% of its 346 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 25.1% of the time, so this is 8.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.9% of tests against 16.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, integral vehicle structure condition and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 61 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 37.1% in the 60-90k band and 32.6% in the 150k+ band, a 4.5-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 35.3% in 2021 to 27.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 69 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.5% | 57 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.3% | 39 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 37 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.5% | 26 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.8% | 20 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 61 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 36 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 28 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 26 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 25 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 23 |
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 | 40.5% | 140 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.2% | 101 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 22.8% | 79 |
| 4 | Tyres | 22.8% | 79 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.5% | 71 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 17.6% | 61 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 62 | 37.1% |
| 90-120k | 60 | 31.7% |
| 120-150k | 89 | 32.6% |
| 150k+ | 129 | 32.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 266 | 34.2% |
| Petrol | 80 | 30.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 85 | 35.3% |
| 2022 | 97 | 36.1% |
| 2023 | 75 | 32.0% |
| 2024 | 46 | 30.4% |
| 2025 | 43 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Freda
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.9% 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 (11.3% 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 Ford Fredas pass their MOT?
66.8% of the 346 2009 Ford Freda MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Ford Freda?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.9% of tests, followed by suspension (16.5%).
Does the 2009 Freda get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 37.1% in the 60-90k band to 32.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 346 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.