Used car guide

2009 Honda Accord diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Honda Accord first registered in 2009 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 5,771 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,771MOTs of 2009 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
63%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 59%)
9,400typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for headlights

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2009 Honda Accord diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2009 Honda Accord diesel than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Headlights2.5× usual
    Honda Accord
    17.8% All 2009 cars
    7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.6%, against 3.7% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Brake pads1.8× usual
    Honda Accord
    16.3% All 2009 cars
    8.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.4%, against 2.2% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints10.9× usual
    Honda Accord
    7.6% All 2009 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.2% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Ball joint1.7× usual
    Honda Accord
    10.9% All 2009 cars
    6.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.4%, against 3.4% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Battery5.1× usual
    Honda Accord
    4.1% All 2009 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0.2% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the car starts cleanly and there are no warning lights once running.

Better than most

Coil springs: 4.6% here, against 11.4% of all 2009 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 0.5% here, against 7.2% of all 2009 cars.

Common 2009 Honda Accord diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2009 Honda Accord diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    40% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    36% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    34% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    34% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Rust and bodywork
    5% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2009 Honda Accord diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the 2009 Honda Accord diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the brake pads? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the 2009 Honda Accord diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 10.9× as often on the 2009 Honda Accord diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Honda Accord?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Honda Accord compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2015488Tyres 27%
20141,263Tyres 28%
20131,463Tyres 31%
20123,468Tyres 29%
20113,757Tyres 31%
20103,745Suspension 33%
20088,565Suspension 41%
20079,350Suspension 48%
20068,451Suspension 48%
20058,708Suspension 52%
20047,445Suspension 53%
20034,742Suspension 50%
20021,738Suspension 45%
20011,688Suspension 47%
20002,233Suspension 45%
19991,404Suspension 42%
1998521Suspension 42%
1997228Suspension 39%
1996170Suspension 46%
1995134Suspension 40%
1994–Too few tests
1993–Too few tests
1992–Too few tests
1991–Too few tests
1990–Too few tests
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–Too few tests
1982–Too few tests
1980–Too few tests
1979–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Honda Accord cars first registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score