2009 Jaguar XJ — MOT failures & pass rate
3,421 MOT tests on the 2009 Jaguar XJ are in this dataset, and 81.7% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail 21.8% of the time, so this is 3.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.5%) and suspension (7.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, pins and bushes and position lamp — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 141 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.7% in the 0-30k band and 20.0% in the 150k+ band, a 12.3-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.7pp more often than petrol ones (18.8% vs 16.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 258 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.4% | 253 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.4% | 185 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.7% | 160 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 153 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.7% | 59 |
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 dust cover | 141 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 135 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 102 |
| 4 | Washers | 90 |
| 5 | Wipers | 87 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 87 |
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 | 27.6% | 945 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.9% | 784 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.9% | 784 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 311 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.2% | 144 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.7% | 128 |
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 | 91 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 579 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,132 | 18.9% |
| 90-120k | 884 | 19.9% |
| 120-150k | 420 | 20.5% |
| 150k+ | 315 | 20.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,775 | 18.8% |
| Petrol | 646 | 16.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 713 | 18.1% |
| 2022 | 727 | 19.3% |
| 2023 | 677 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 660 | 17.6% |
| 2025 | 644 | 20.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 XJ
On a 2009 XJ, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.4% 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 (5.4% 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 Jaguar XJs pass their MOT?
81.7% of the 3,421 2009 Jaguar XJ MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Jaguar XJ?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by suspension (7.4%).
Does the 2009 XJ get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 20.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,421 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.