2009 Mazda 5 — MOT failures & pass rate
10,349 MOT tests on the 2009 Mazda 5 are in this dataset, and 68.7% of them passed. That is 4.4 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 26.9%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (19.7%) and lighting & signalling (16.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, pins and bushes and position lamp — ball joint alone was recorded 832 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.2% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 1.7pp more often than diesel ones (31.8% vs 30.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 45.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 29.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 33.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.7% | 2,035 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 1,748 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.3% | 863 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 862 |
| 5 | Brakes | 8.0% | 830 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.0% | 724 |
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 | 832 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 827 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 806 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 640 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 605 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 601 |
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 | 45.1% | 4,663 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.0% | 3,107 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.4% | 2,730 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.7% | 2,140 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.6% | 1,720 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 1,615 |
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 | 93 | 20.4% |
| 30-60k | 713 | 23.7% |
| 60-90k | 3,060 | 30.1% |
| 90-120k | 4,081 | 33.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,783 | 33.5% |
| 150k+ | 616 | 30.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 7,599 | 31.8% |
| Diesel | 2,750 | 30.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,690 | 29.8% |
| 2022 | 2,468 | 31.5% |
| 2023 | 2,088 | 31.6% |
| 2024 | 1,709 | 31.5% |
| 2025 | 1,394 | 33.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 5
On a 2009 5, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (19.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (16.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (8.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 5s pass their MOT?
68.7% of the 10,349 2009 Mazda 5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Mazda 5?
Suspension, recorded in 19.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.9%).
Does the 2009 5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.4% in the 0-30k band to 30.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,349 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.