2008 Chrysler 300 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 724 MOT tests, the 2008 Chrysler 300 recorded a 77.9% pass rate. That is 4.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.2%. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 15.3% of all tests — 5.9 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), pins and bushes and position lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 79 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2008 300 fails 19.2% of the time in the 30-60k band and 21.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.5 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 34.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.3% | 111 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.4% | 68 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 67 |
| 4 | Steering | 4.3% | 31 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.9% | 28 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 79 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 50 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 41 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 34 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 31 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 26 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 34.9% | 253 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.9% | 224 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.9% | 151 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.0% | 101 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.8% | 49 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.4% | 39 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 73 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 178 | 25.3% |
| 90-120k | 210 | 19.5% |
| 120-150k | 117 | 25.6% |
| 150k+ | 134 | 21.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 646 | 22.9% |
| Petrol | 78 | 15.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 169 | 23.7% |
| 2022 | 141 | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 157 | 22.3% |
| 2024 | 130 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 127 | 29.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 300
On a 2008 300, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (15.3% 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.
- Suspension (9.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 Chrysler 300s pass their MOT?
77.9% of the 724 2008 Chrysler 300 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Chrysler 300?
Brakes, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by suspension (9.4%).
Does the 2008 300 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.2% in the 30-60k band to 21.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 724 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.