2009 Ford Ka — MOT failures & pass rate
118,660 MOT tests on the 2009 Ford Ka are in this dataset, and 72.9% of them passed. That is 1.4 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.7%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 15.1% of tests against 11.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, rbt (sp) and pins and bushes — shock absorbers alone was recorded 8,933 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.9% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 27.0% fail against 29.0% for diesel, a 2.0-point gap across 118,660 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 43.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.1% | 17,932 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.5% | 13,599 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 12,841 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.8% | 6,913 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.0% | 5,977 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 5,506 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 8,933 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 6,343 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 5,033 |
| 4 | Wipers | 4,692 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 4,547 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 4,251 |
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 | 43.9% | 52,142 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.1% | 33,346 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.9% | 22,375 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.2% | 20,415 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.8% | 11,610 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.3% | 11,002 |
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 | 7,561 | 14.8% |
| 30-60k | 31,367 | 23.5% |
| 60-90k | 48,227 | 28.7% |
| 90-120k | 25,110 | 30.9% |
| 120-150k | 5,420 | 32.2% |
| 150k+ | 931 | 33.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 114,706 | 27.0% |
| Diesel | 3,954 | 29.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,452 | 25.6% |
| 2022 | 25,058 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 24,385 | 27.1% |
| 2024 | 23,039 | 28.6% |
| 2025 | 20,726 | 28.7% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Ka
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 15.1% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (15.1% 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 (11.5% 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 (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 Kas pass their MOT?
72.9% of the 118,660 2009 Ford Ka MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Ford Ka?
Suspension, recorded in 15.1% of tests, followed by brakes (11.5%).
Does the 2009 Ka get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.8% in the 0-30k band to 33.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 118,660 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.