2009 Jaguar XF — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 44,061 MOT tests, the 2009 Jaguar XF recorded a 77.1% pass rate. That is 1.2 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.6%) and suspension (10.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, ball joint dust cover and pins and bushes — position lamp alone was recorded 2,441 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.0% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.5pp more often than petrol ones (23.1% vs 19.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 5,123 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.0% | 4,393 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.4% | 3,252 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.8% | 2,559 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 1,575 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 824 |
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 | 2,441 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 2,135 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,933 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,626 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 1,342 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,211 |
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 | 34.2% | 15,068 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.1% | 12,399 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.7% | 9,993 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 4,161 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.1% | 2,680 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 1,898 |
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 | 383 | 14.6% |
| 30-60k | 3,312 | 16.4% |
| 60-90k | 10,295 | 20.5% |
| 90-120k | 14,315 | 23.1% |
| 120-150k | 10,137 | 25.1% |
| 150k+ | 5,602 | 27.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 41,414 | 23.1% |
| Petrol | 2,647 | 19.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,142 | 20.5% |
| 2022 | 9,736 | 21.9% |
| 2023 | 9,002 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 8,161 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 7,020 | 25.2% |
What to check before buying a 2009 XF
On a 2009 XF, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.0% 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.
- Tyres (7.4% 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.
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 Jaguar XFs pass their MOT?
77.1% of the 44,061 2009 Jaguar XF MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Jaguar XF?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.6% of tests, followed by suspension (10.0%).
Does the 2009 XF get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 0-30k band to 27.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 44,061 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.