2009 Honda Jazz — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Honda Jazz passed 81.0% of its 147,071 recorded MOT tests. That is 7.2 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 26.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.3% of tests against 7.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and wipers — position lamp alone was recorded 8,505 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.3% in the 0-30k band and 27.1% in the 150k+ band, a 17.8-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 16,564 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.1% | 10,415 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.7% | 9,787 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.0% | 7,314 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.1% | 5,964 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 2,864 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 8,505 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 6,163 |
| 3 | Wipers | 5,686 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 5,659 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 5,198 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 4,507 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 26.9% | 39,590 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.7% | 37,775 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.2% | 25,262 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 22,388 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.9% | 14,564 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 6,377 |
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 | 7,747 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 39,900 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 50,626 | 19.2% |
| 90-120k | 32,158 | 23.2% |
| 120-150k | 12,224 | 25.8% |
| 150k+ | 4,343 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 29,062 | 15.2% |
| 2022 | 29,547 | 17.1% |
| 2023 | 29,794 | 19.2% |
| 2024 | 29,742 | 21.2% |
| 2025 | 28,926 | 22.2% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Jazz
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.1% 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 (6.7% 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.
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 Jazzs pass their MOT?
81.0% of the 147,071 2009 Honda Jazz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Honda Jazz?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.3% of tests, followed by suspension (7.1%).
Does the 2009 Jazz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 27.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 147,071 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.