2009 Ford Galaxy — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Ford Galaxy passed 73.4% of its 28,965 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as MPVs of a similar age (27.1% 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
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests against 12.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, pins and bushes and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 2,293 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 34.8% in the 0-30k band and 27.6% in the 150k+ band, a 7.2-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 21.7% fail against 26.8% for diesel, a 5.1-point gap across 28,965 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.6% 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% | 4,790 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.8% | 3,695 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.1% | 2,056 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.0% | 2,032 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 1,551 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.6% | 1,343 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 2,293 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 1,574 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 1,556 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,210 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,088 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 1,087 |
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 | 37.4% | 10,817 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.8% | 9,196 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.9% | 7,780 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.3% | 5,297 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.1% | 4,375 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.6% | 3,059 |
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 | 503 | 34.8% |
| 30-60k | 684 | 17.3% |
| 60-90k | 3,165 | 21.8% |
| 90-120k | 7,344 | 26.2% |
| 120-150k | 8,039 | 27.4% |
| 150k+ | 8,606 | 27.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 28,065 | 26.8% |
| Petrol | 900 | 21.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,012 | 25.8% |
| 2022 | 6,537 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 5,865 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 5,160 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 4,391 | 27.6% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Galaxy
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 (12.8% 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 (7.1% 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 Galaxys pass their MOT?
73.4% of the 28,965 2009 Ford Galaxy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Ford Galaxy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests, followed by suspension (12.8%).
Does the 2009 Galaxy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 34.8% in the 0-30k band to 27.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,965 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.