2009 Renault Laguna — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Renault Laguna passed 71.1% of its 9,279 recorded MOT tests. Against large family cars of a similar age (25.0% fail rate), the 2009 Laguna comes out 3.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.0%) and suspension (16.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and joints — coil spring alone was recorded 1,115 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.7% in the 0-30k band and 32.4% in the 150k+ band, a 15.7-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 26.7% fail against 29.4% for diesel, a 2.6-point gap across 9,279 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 37.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 1,580 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.8% | 1,555 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.5% | 978 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 565 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.4% | 505 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 354 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,115 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 857 |
| 3 | Joints | 571 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 388 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 386 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 355 |
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 | 37.9% | 3,512 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.0% | 2,968 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.6% | 2,838 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 1,526 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.5% | 879 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 651 |
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 | 60 | 16.7% |
| 30-60k | 544 | 23.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,892 | 27.8% |
| 90-120k | 2,761 | 28.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,249 | 29.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,756 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,760 | 29.4% |
| Petrol | 1,519 | 26.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,337 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 2,160 | 29.2% |
| 2023 | 1,876 | 30.0% |
| 2024 | 1,598 | 28.3% |
| 2025 | 1,308 | 29.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Laguna
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.8% 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.
- 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 Renault Lagunas pass their MOT?
71.1% of the 9,279 2009 Renault Laguna MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Renault Laguna?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.0% of tests, followed by suspension (16.8%).
Does the 2009 Laguna get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 0-30k band to 32.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,279 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.