2009 Honda Freed — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Honda Freed passed 84.4% of its 270 recorded MOT tests. That is 10.5 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.6% of all tests — 11.1 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp aim and tread depth — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 16 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 14.7% once past 90-120k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 42 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.4% | 12 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.7% | 10 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.6% | 7 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.8% | 5 |
| 6 | Brakes | 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 | 16 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 12 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 9 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 7 |
| 6 | Washers | 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 | 16.7% | 45 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.0% | 35 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 22 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.8% | 21 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.2% | 14 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.4% | 12 |
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 | 74 | 8.1% |
| 60-90k | 128 | 18.0% |
| 90-120k | 34 | 14.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 47 | 17.0% |
| 2023 | 58 | 13.8% |
| 2024 | 73 | 16.4% |
| 2025 | 76 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Freed
On a 2009 Freed, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.4% 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.
- 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.
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 Freeds pass their MOT?
84.4% of the 270 2009 Honda Freed MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Honda Freed?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by tyres (4.4%).
Does the 2009 Freed get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 30-60k band to 14.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 270 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.