2009 Honda Accord — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Honda Accord passed 78.9% of its 19,916 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.1 percentage points better than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.0% of all tests — 5.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,262 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.2% in the 0-30k band and 24.2% in the 150k+ band, a 10.0-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.9pp more often than petrol ones (22.1% vs 19.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 26.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 2,791 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.9% | 1,778 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.5% | 1,495 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.3% | 1,063 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 674 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 403 |
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 | 1,262 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 1,227 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,056 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 787 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 727 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 588 |
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 | 26.3% | 5,241 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.3% | 5,242 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.9% | 4,761 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 3,372 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.5% | 2,087 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 1,116 |
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 | 148 | 14.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,240 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 3,263 | 18.1% |
| 90-120k | 4,858 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 4,923 | 22.8% |
| 150k+ | 5,472 | 24.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 13,099 | 22.1% |
| Petrol | 6,815 | 19.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,358 | 19.6% |
| 2022 | 4,255 | 19.9% |
| 2023 | 4,024 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 3,838 | 23.2% |
| 2025 | 3,441 | 22.7% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Accord
On a 2009 Accord, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.9% 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.
- Suspension (7.5% 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.
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 Honda Accords pass their MOT?
78.9% of the 19,916 2009 Honda Accord MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Honda Accord?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by brakes (8.9%).
Does the 2009 Accord get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.2% in the 0-30k band to 24.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,916 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.