2009 Mazda 3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 52,784 MOT tests, the 2009 Mazda 3 recorded a 73.6% pass rate. That is 1.1 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.4%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.5%) and lighting & signalling (14.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, position lamp and headlamp aim — ball joint alone was recorded 5,159 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.1% versus 10.4%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.9pp more often than petrol ones (28.1% vs 26.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 40.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.5% | 8,201 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 7,554 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 4,198 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.9% | 3,098 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 2,818 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 2,175 |
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 | 5,159 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 3,851 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,376 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 2,034 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,987 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,984 |
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 | 40.9% | 21,585 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.8% | 15,188 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.3% | 12,851 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 8,132 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.5% | 5,559 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 5,513 |
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 | 748 | 10.4% |
| 30-60k | 6,439 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 15,977 | 25.1% |
| 90-120k | 17,857 | 28.7% |
| 120-150k | 8,884 | 30.5% |
| 150k+ | 2,873 | 31.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 44,508 | 26.1% |
| Diesel | 8,269 | 28.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,871 | 24.7% |
| 2022 | 11,536 | 26.4% |
| 2023 | 10,829 | 26.8% |
| 2024 | 9,911 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 8,637 | 26.8% |
What to check before buying a 2009 3
On a 2009 3, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.5% 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 (14.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.0% 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 Mazda 3s pass their MOT?
73.6% of the 52,784 2009 Mazda 3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Mazda 3?
Suspension, recorded in 15.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.3%).
Does the 2009 3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.4% in the 0-30k band to 31.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 52,784 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.