2008 Daihatsu Copen — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Daihatsu Copen passed 84.1% of its 1,564 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 26.3% of the time, so this is 10.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.0%) and suspension (5.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, wipers and headlamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 98 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.3% versus 9.8%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 110 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.8% | 90 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.2% | 66 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.1% | 64 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.8% | 59 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 40 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 98 |
| 2 | Wipers | 47 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 44 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 39 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 31 |
| 6 | Washers | 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 | 27.4% | 428 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.6% | 306 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.3% | 302 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.4% | 131 |
| 5 | Other defects | 3.3% | 51 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.4% | 37 |
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 | 265 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 672 | 14.0% |
| 60-90k | 470 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 114 | 22.8% |
| 120-150k | 41 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 318 | 13.5% |
| 2022 | 315 | 14.3% |
| 2023 | 321 | 17.1% |
| 2024 | 306 | 16.7% |
| 2025 | 304 | 18.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Copen
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.8% 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.
- Visibility (4.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 Daihatsu Copens pass their MOT?
84.1% of the 1,564 2008 Daihatsu Copen MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Daihatsu Copen?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.0% of tests, followed by suspension (5.8%).
Does the 2008 Copen get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 29.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,564 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.