Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2009 Dodge Nitro?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2009 Dodge Nitro?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2009 Dodge Nitro?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2009 Dodge Nitro vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

59% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2009 Dodge Nitro reliable?

Based on MOT data from 623 vehicles, the 2009 Dodge Nitro has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2009 Dodge Nitro?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2009 Dodge Nitro are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (61.6% of vehicles), Parking brake efficiency below requirements (49.3% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (46.2% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2009 Dodge Nitro?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Dodge Nitro (2009)

623 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.7% first-time pass rate

2009 Dodge Nitro

CarHunch analysed 623 real MOT records for the 2009 Dodge Nitro. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2009 Dodge Nitro is a reliability concern compared to the UK average—only 71.7% pass first time against the 80% benchmark—and that gap widens when you consider that 59.2% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point. This is a real red flag for any buyer, as nearly three in five examples have had a safety-critical fault.

At roughly 70,000 miles for a 15-year-old vehicle, these Nitros show typical mileage for age, but they're racking up an average of 4.75 failures and 22.8 advisories per test, suggesting corrosion, wear, and mechanical issues accumulate quickly. Before purchasing, have a pre-buy inspection focus on the suspension, brakes, and undersealing, since the high dangerous-defect rate indicates structural or safety systems need close scrutiny.

The 2009 Dodge Nitro has a below-average first-time pass rate (71.7% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

71.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

59.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.75

Over 16 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

69k

Middle half: 55k–84k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 22.8 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 623 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 623 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 61.6%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Parking brake efficiency below requirements · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 46.2%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 37%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Suspension & steering 32.5%

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play · Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2009.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 623 Dodge Nitro cars.

Before you buy a 2009 Dodge Nitro

Based on MOT data from 623 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 59.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (99%)	616	71.6%	4.78

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,965 Dodge Nitro vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 32.5%

639

Black 28.4%

559

Silver 22%

432

Blue 12.1%

238

Orange 4.3%

White 0.4%

Grey 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2009 Dodge Nitro vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

68,799

typical

54,590

low mileage

83,521

high mileage

Half of all 2009 Dodge Nitro vehicles fall between 54,590 and 83,521 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 54,590 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 54,590–83,521 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2009 Dodge Nitros sit.

⚠ Over 112,753 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2009 Dodge Nitro — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 53% of 2009 Dodge Nitros are still active.

307 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 53% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.75

Avg failures per vehicle

22.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Dodge Nitro: All Nitro years → Which year to buy? →

2007 2008

Or browse all models: Dodge →

Compare with another model

See how the 2009 Dodge Nitro stacks up against a rival.

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