2009 Ford Fusion — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 55,628 MOT tests, the 2009 Ford Fusion recorded a 78.4% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail 26.1% of the time, so this is 4.5pp better 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 16.5% of tests against 8.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, ball joint dust cover and rigid brake pipes — stop lamp alone was recorded 4,381 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.3% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 20.4% fail against 24.2% for diesel, a 3.8-point gap across 55,628 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 29.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 9,181 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.5% | 4,705 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.9% | 3,824 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.5% | 2,477 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.3% | 2,420 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 2,326 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 4,381 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 2,997 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,750 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 2,435 |
| 5 | Wipers | 2,103 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 2,041 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 29.5% | 16,414 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.8% | 15,437 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.3% | 13,507 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.9% | 6,624 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 4,944 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.1% | 4,503 |
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 | 2,670 | 11.9% |
| 30-60k | 14,929 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 19,758 | 21.9% |
| 90-120k | 12,350 | 25.6% |
| 120-150k | 4,305 | 29.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,460 | 30.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 38,101 | 20.4% |
| Diesel | 17,527 | 24.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,975 | 19.8% |
| 2022 | 11,732 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 11,248 | 21.3% |
| 2024 | 10,676 | 22.8% |
| 2025 | 9,997 | 23.7% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Fusion
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.5% 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 (6.9% 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 Fusions pass their MOT?
78.4% of the 55,628 2009 Ford Fusion MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Ford Fusion?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests, followed by suspension (8.5%).
Does the 2009 Fusion get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.9% in the 0-30k band to 30.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 55,628 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.