2009 Honda Odyssey — MOT failures & pass rate
274 MOT tests on the 2009 Honda Odyssey are in this dataset, and 83.2% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 25.8% of the time, so this is 9.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.7% of all tests — 5.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, headlamp aim and position lamp — stop lamp alone was recorded 12 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.5% in the 30-60k band and 31.8% in the 120-150k band, a 21.3-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 23.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.0% in 2021 to 19.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 32 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.2% | 17 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.1% | 14 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.9% | 8 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 6 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.1% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 12 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 10 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 9 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 8 |
| 6 | Locking devices | 8 |
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 | 23.7% | 65 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.0% | 52 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.0% | 41 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 35 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.8% | 24 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 20 |
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 | 38 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 107 | 13.1% |
| 90-120k | 57 | 14.0% |
| 120-150k | 44 | 31.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 40 | 25.0% |
| 2022 | 41 | 14.6% |
| 2023 | 57 | 12.3% |
| 2024 | 64 | 14.1% |
| 2025 | 72 | 19.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Odyssey
On a 2009 Odyssey, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.2% 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 (5.1% 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 Odysseys pass their MOT?
83.2% of the 274 2009 Honda Odyssey MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Honda Odyssey?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by suspension (6.2%).
Does the 2009 Odyssey get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.5% in the 30-60k band to 31.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 274 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.