2009 Mazda Bt-50 — MOT failures & pass rate
2,109 MOT tests on the 2009 Mazda Bt-50 are in this dataset, and 76.1% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 25.3% of the time, so this is 1.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests against 9.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rigid brake pipes and headlamp — position lamp alone was recorded 200 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.9% versus 8.8%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.4% in 2021 to 20.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.7% | 416 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.8% | 206 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 161 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.3% | 154 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 118 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 107 |
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 | 200 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 183 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 122 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 116 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 112 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 86 |
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 | 36.3% | 766 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.9% | 546 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.9% | 399 |
| 4 | Tyres | 18.8% | 396 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 393 |
| 6 | Steering | 14.9% | 314 |
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 | 34 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 248 | 17.3% |
| 60-90k | 474 | 22.1% |
| 90-120k | 615 | 26.2% |
| 120-150k | 408 | 23.3% |
| 150k+ | 329 | 28.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 513 | 24.4% |
| 2022 | 480 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 419 | 23.4% |
| 2024 | 369 | 23.6% |
| 2025 | 328 | 20.7% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Bt-50
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.8% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.6% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Bt-50s pass their MOT?
76.1% of the 2,109 2009 Mazda Bt-50 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Mazda Bt-50?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests, followed by brakes (9.8%).
Does the 2009 Bt-50 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 28.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,109 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.