2009 Mazda 6 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 29,487 MOT tests, the 2009 Mazda 6 recorded a 75.0% pass rate. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (24.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.3%) and brakes (13.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and rbt (sp) — position lamp alone was recorded 2,218 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.7% in the 0-30k band and 27.1% in the 150k+ band, a 10.5-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 24.6% of the time against 25.4% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 4,204 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.1% | 3,874 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.5% | 2,507 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.6% | 1,657 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 1,269 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 1,123 |
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 | 2,218 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,876 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 1,593 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 1,505 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 1,288 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,213 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 35.0% | 10,325 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.9% | 10,297 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.3% | 8,337 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 5,050 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.6% | 3,124 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 2,962 |
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 | 198 | 16.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,409 | 18.2% |
| 60-90k | 5,606 | 22.4% |
| 90-120k | 8,917 | 25.3% |
| 120-150k | 7,499 | 26.2% |
| 150k+ | 5,848 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 16,698 | 24.6% |
| Diesel | 12,787 | 25.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,858 | 23.9% |
| 2022 | 6,876 | 24.1% |
| 2023 | 5,987 | 25.3% |
| 2024 | 4,915 | 26.2% |
| 2025 | 3,851 | 26.6% |
What to check before buying a 2009 6
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.3% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (13.1% 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.
- Suspension (8.5% 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.
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 6s pass their MOT?
75.0% of the 29,487 2009 Mazda 6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Mazda 6?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests, followed by brakes (13.1%).
Does the 2009 6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 0-30k band to 27.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 29,487 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.