2008 Daihatsu Sirion — MOT failures & pass rate
12,084 MOT tests on the 2008 Daihatsu Sirion are in this dataset, and 77.6% of them passed. City cars of a similar age fail 27.1% of the time, so this is 4.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (12.0%) and lighting & signalling (10.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, headlamp aim and wipers — ball joint alone was recorded 963 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.1% in the 0-30k band and 30.7% in the 150k+ band, a 19.5-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.0% | 1,445 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 1,211 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.8% | 823 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.1% | 620 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 513 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.2% | 505 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 963 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 526 |
| 3 | Wipers | 518 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 438 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 386 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 379 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 34.9% | 4,213 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.2% | 3,292 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.2% | 2,924 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.7% | 1,899 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.6% | 1,521 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 1,386 |
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 | 881 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 4,231 | 18.2% |
| 60-90k | 4,161 | 23.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,086 | 29.3% |
| 120-150k | 559 | 34.4% |
| 150k+ | 163 | 30.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,639 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 2,614 | 21.8% |
| 2023 | 2,481 | 23.0% |
| 2024 | 2,315 | 25.3% |
| 2025 | 2,035 | 23.9% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Sirion
On a 2008 Sirion, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (12.0% 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 (10.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.8% 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.
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 Sirions pass their MOT?
77.6% of the 12,084 2008 Daihatsu Sirion MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Daihatsu Sirion?
Suspension, recorded in 12.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.0%).
Does the 2008 Sirion get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 30.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,084 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.