2009 Mazda 2 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 84,555 MOT tests, the 2009 Mazda 2 recorded a 72.9% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (26.1% fail rate), the 2009 2 comes out 1.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.7%) and suspension (15.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, headlamp aim and position lamp — ball joint alone was recorded 7,653 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.7% in the 0-30k band and 33.8% in the 150k+ band, a 21.1-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 26.9% fail against 30.1% for diesel, a 3.2-point gap across 84,555 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 13,304 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.7% | 13,262 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.6% | 5,571 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.9% | 5,025 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.0% | 4,259 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.7% | 3,935 |
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 | 7,653 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 6,080 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 5,978 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 5,539 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 4,621 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 4,250 |
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 | 28.9% | 24,473 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.1% | 23,784 |
| 3 | Brakes | 27.0% | 22,791 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 15,589 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.4% | 12,153 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.6% | 6,464 |
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 | 2,421 | 12.7% |
| 30-60k | 15,272 | 20.5% |
| 60-90k | 30,522 | 26.8% |
| 90-120k | 24,338 | 30.4% |
| 120-150k | 9,091 | 32.1% |
| 150k+ | 2,900 | 33.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 77,917 | 26.9% |
| Diesel | 6,638 | 30.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,434 | 25.7% |
| 2022 | 17,876 | 26.4% |
| 2023 | 17,287 | 27.0% |
| 2024 | 16,269 | 28.3% |
| 2025 | 14,689 | 28.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 2
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.7% 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.
- Visibility (6.6% 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 Mazda 2s pass their MOT?
72.9% of the 84,555 2009 Mazda 2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Mazda 2?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by suspension (15.7%).
Does the 2009 2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.7% in the 0-30k band to 33.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 84,555 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.