Used car guide

2009 Honda Accord: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2009 Honda Accords, from 2,756 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,756MOT tests in 2025
64%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 58%)
8,200typical miles a year
2.4×the usual rate for headlights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2009 Honda Accords than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Headlights2.4× usual
    Honda Accord
    19.6% All 2009 cars
    8.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.1%, against 3.9% 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.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints8.1× usual
    Honda Accord
    6.5% All 2009 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, 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.

  • Battery3.9× usual
    Honda Accord
    3.5% All 2009 cars
    0.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, 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.

  • Anti-roll bar4.4× usual
    Honda Accord
    2.2% All 2009 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.1% 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.

Better than most

Coil springs: 4.2% here, against 12.4% of all 2009 cars. Engine oil leaks: 3.1% here, against 10.4% of all 2009 cars.

By area

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

  • Suspension
    41% 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
    37% 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
    32% 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
    31% 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
    9% 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
    6% 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.

Looking at a Honda Accord?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20121,097Suspension 32%
20111,199Suspension 32%
20101,174Suspension 38%
20082,552Suspension 44%
20072,612Suspension 50%
20062,317Suspension 52%
20052,390Suspension 54%
20042,078Suspension 54%
20031,343Suspension 51%
2000594Suspension 45%

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