2009 Dodge Caliber — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,072 MOT tests analysed for the 2009 Dodge Caliber, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 64.9% was below the average for cars of a similar age (76.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 38.9% in the 120-150k group versus 25.7% in the 30-60k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 22.8% | 244 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 20.1% | 215 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.1% | 140 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.4% | 90 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.8% | 84 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 7.5% | 80 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 149 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 107 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 106 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 102 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 74 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 73 |
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 | 52.2% | 560 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.1% | 344 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.6% | 317 |
| 4 | Other defects | 13.7% | 147 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 98 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 89 |
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 | 175 | 25.7% |
| 60-90k | 421 | 35.6% |
| 90-120k | 291 | 39.5% |
| 120-150k | 149 | 38.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 629 | 37.8% |
| Petrol | 443 | 31.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 325 | 35.4% |
| 2022 | 270 | 34.8% |
| 2023 | 215 | 34.4% |
| 2024 | 155 | 34.2% |
| 2025 | 107 | 37.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Caliber
Before buying a 2009 Dodge Caliber, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 22.8% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (22.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (20.1% 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.
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 Dodge Calibers pass their MOT?
64.9% of the 1,072 2009 Dodge Caliber MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 35.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Dodge Caliber?
Suspension, recorded in 22.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (20.1%).
Does the 2009 Caliber get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.7% in the 30-60k band to 38.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,072 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.