2009 Ford Mondeo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Ford Mondeo passed 74.8% of its 115,055 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (25.0% 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 14.9% of tests against 11.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 7,129 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.8% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.9% fail against 25.5% for diesel, a 2.6-point gap across 115,042 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 24.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 17,151 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.3% | 13,047 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.9% | 9,082 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.0% | 8,076 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 6,294 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 4,964 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 7,129 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 6,957 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 5,561 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 5,039 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 4,916 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 3,606 |
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 | 39.5% | 45,461 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.2% | 35,907 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.7% | 30,704 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 14,513 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.7% | 12,254 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.2% | 11,712 |
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 | 577 | 21.1% |
| 30-60k | 4,356 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 15,327 | 20.9% |
| 90-120k | 30,157 | 24.6% |
| 120-150k | 31,252 | 26.2% |
| 150k+ | 33,041 | 27.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 101,482 | 25.5% |
| Petrol | 13,560 | 22.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 29,224 | 24.1% |
| 2022 | 26,434 | 24.6% |
| 2023 | 23,404 | 25.4% |
| 2024 | 19,846 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 16,147 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Mondeo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.3% 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 (7.9% 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 Mondeos pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 115,055 2009 Ford Mondeo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Ford Mondeo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.9% of tests, followed by suspension (11.3%).
Does the 2009 Mondeo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.1% in the 0-30k band to 27.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 115,055 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.