2009 Nissan Murano — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,150 MOT tests, the 2009 Nissan Murano recorded a 78.8% pass rate. Large SUVs of a similar age fail at 21.6%, so the 2009 Murano sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.2%) and lighting & signalling (8.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and exhaust system — headlamp aim alone was recorded 55 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2009 Murano fails 18.5% of the time in the 30-60k band and 15.2% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.5% in 2021 to 18.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.2% | 106 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 94 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.1% | 70 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 59 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 46 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.5% | 40 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 55 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 49 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 45 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joints | 44 |
| 5 | Washers | 34 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 33 |
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 | 37.0% | 426 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.3% | 268 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.8% | 251 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.6% | 191 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.8% | 159 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.7% | 123 |
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 | 130 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 332 | 19.9% |
| 90-120k | 428 | 23.6% |
| 120-150k | 207 | 22.2% |
| 150k+ | 33 | 15.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 263 | 20.5% |
| 2022 | 251 | 21.9% |
| 2023 | 246 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 208 | 20.2% |
| 2025 | 182 | 18.1% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Murano
On a 2009 Murano, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (9.2% 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 (8.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.1% 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.
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 Nissan Muranos pass their MOT?
78.8% of the 1,150 2009 Nissan Murano MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Nissan Murano?
Suspension, recorded in 9.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.2%).
Does the 2009 Murano get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.5% in the 30-60k band to 15.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,150 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.