2008 Bentley Continental — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,808 MOT tests, the 2008 Bentley Continental recorded a 91.9% pass rate. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 21.1% of the time, so this is 12.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.9%) and brakes (2.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are malfunction indicator lamp, pins and bushes and registration plates — malfunction indicator lamp alone was recorded 107 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.5% once past 120-150k — 3.1× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 13.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.9% | 137 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.4% | 117 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 113 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 103 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.2% | 57 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.8% | 38 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 107 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 68 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 47 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 42 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 35 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 31 |
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 | 13.4% | 646 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.9% | 525 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.8% | 182 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 130 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.8% | 84 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.4% | 65 |
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 | 857 | 4.3% |
| 30-60k | 2,128 | 7.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,461 | 10.2% |
| 90-120k | 299 | 13.0% |
| 120-150k | 52 | 13.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 968 | 6.7% |
| 2022 | 985 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | 980 | 9.1% |
| 2024 | 958 | 9.4% |
| 2025 | 917 | 7.4% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Continental
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 2.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (2.9% 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.
- Brakes (2.4% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (2.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Bentley Continentals pass their MOT?
91.9% of the 4,808 2008 Bentley Continental MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Bentley Continental?
Tyres, recorded in 2.9% of tests, followed by brakes (2.4%).
Does the 2008 Continental get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.3% in the 0-30k band to 13.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,808 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.