2009 Honda Legend — MOT failures & pass rate
377 MOT tests on the 2009 Honda Legend are in this dataset, and 85.7% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 25.4% of the time, so this is 11.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.1%) and lighting & signalling (5.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, wipers and position lamp — ball joint alone was recorded 13 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.3% in the 30-60k band and 19.1% in the 120-150k band, a 7.8-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.1% | 23 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 22 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.5% | 17 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.5% | 13 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.2% | 12 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 13 |
| 2 | Wipers | 11 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 10 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 8 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joints | 7 |
| 6 | Linkage | 6 |
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 | 20.2% | 76 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.3% | 69 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.0% | 68 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 48 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.6% | 36 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.2% | 27 |
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 | 53 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 112 | 12.5% |
| 90-120k | 108 | 13.9% |
| 120-150k | 68 | 19.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 80 | 10.0% |
| 2022 | 87 | 17.2% |
| 2023 | 79 | 16.5% |
| 2024 | 71 | 16.9% |
| 2025 | 60 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Legend
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 6.1% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (6.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (4.5% 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 Legends pass their MOT?
85.7% of the 377 2009 Honda Legend MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Honda Legend?
Suspension, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.8%).
Does the 2009 Legend get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 30-60k band to 19.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 377 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.