2009 Mitsubishi Grandis — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,299 MOT tests, the 2009 Mitsubishi Grandis recorded a 69.4% pass rate. That is 3.7 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 26.9%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (17.2%) and lighting & signalling (17.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, ball joint and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 122 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 34.3% versus 9.3%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 37.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.2% | 223 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 222 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.5% | 136 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 83 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.7% | 74 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.7% | 74 |
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 | 122 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 119 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 104 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 77 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 75 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 61 |
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 | 37.6% | 489 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.9% | 414 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.3% | 381 |
| 4 | Other defects | 23.1% | 300 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 22.5% | 292 |
| 6 | Steering | 10.6% | 138 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 43 | 9.3% |
| 60-90k | 168 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 430 | 31.9% |
| 120-150k | 354 | 33.9% |
| 150k+ | 286 | 34.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,189 | 31.5% |
| Petrol | 110 | 20.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 347 | 28.2% |
| 2022 | 315 | 30.2% |
| 2023 | 256 | 31.6% |
| 2024 | 209 | 33.0% |
| 2025 | 172 | 31.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Grandis
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 17.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (17.2% 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 (17.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.5% 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 Mitsubishi Grandiss pass their MOT?
69.4% of the 1,299 2009 Mitsubishi Grandis MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Mitsubishi Grandis?
Suspension, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.1%).
Does the 2009 Grandis get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 30-60k band to 34.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,299 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.