2008 Audi A8 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Audi A8 passed 86.5% of its 4,245 recorded MOT tests. That is 9.0 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.4%) and suspension (4.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, washers and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 138 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.7% in the 0-30k band and 13.8% in the 150k+ band, a 6.1-point spread.
The diesel cars hold up better: 13.3% fail against 15.2% for petrol, a 1.9-point gap across 4,245 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.0% in 2021 to 12.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 271 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.2% | 178 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.2% | 177 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 155 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.4% | 142 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 121 |
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 | 138 |
| 2 | Washers | 116 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 112 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 103 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 100 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 81 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.6% | 1,002 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.8% | 885 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.5% | 700 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 303 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.3% | 266 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.3% | 225 |
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 | 39 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 87 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 383 | 12.8% |
| 90-120k | 965 | 13.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,146 | 14.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,620 | 13.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,717 | 13.3% |
| Petrol | 528 | 15.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,032 | 15.0% |
| 2022 | 962 | 13.4% |
| 2023 | 866 | 12.7% |
| 2024 | 741 | 13.4% |
| 2025 | 644 | 12.4% |
What to check before buying a 2008 A8
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.2% 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.
- Tyres (4.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2008 Audi A8s pass their MOT?
86.5% of the 4,245 2008 Audi A8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Audi A8?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by suspension (4.2%).
Does the 2008 A8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 13.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,245 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.