2009 Honda Elysion — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 272 MOT tests, the 2009 Honda Elysion recorded an 87.5% pass rate. That is 13.5 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.0% of tests against 3.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, linkage ball joint dust cover and wipers — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 14 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 18.5% once past 90-120k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 11.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.4% in 2022 to 13.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 30 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.7% | 10 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.7% | 10 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.2% | 6 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.8% | 5 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 14 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 10 |
| 3 | Wipers | 8 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 8 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 7 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 5 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 11.4% | 31 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.0% | 30 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 29 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.0% | 19 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.1% | 14 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 10 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 63 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 130 | 11.5% |
| 90-120k | 54 | 18.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 46 | 17.4% |
| 2023 | 60 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 73 | 9.6% |
| 2025 | 73 | 13.7% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Elysion
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Suspension (3.7% 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 Elysions pass their MOT?
87.5% of the 272 2009 Honda Elysion MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Honda Elysion?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.0% of tests, followed by visibility (3.7%).
Does the 2009 Elysion get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 30-60k band to 18.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 272 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.