2008 Dodge Avenger — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,103 MOT tests, the 2008 Dodge Avenger recorded a 70.3% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (26.0% fail rate), the 2008 Avenger comes out 3.8pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.3%) and lighting & signalling (15.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, ball joint and flexible brake hoses — position lamp alone was recorded 104 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 35.7% versus 17.3%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.9pp more often than petrol ones (32.3% vs 27.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 28.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.3% | 169 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 167 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.6% | 139 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.8% | 75 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.6% | 62 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 58 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 104 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 89 |
| 3 | Flexible brake hoses | 85 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 81 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 49 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 49 |
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 | 37.4% | 413 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.1% | 409 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.8% | 295 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.5% | 226 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 170 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.6% | 128 |
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 | 127 | 17.3% |
| 60-90k | 314 | 27.4% |
| 90-120k | 370 | 32.2% |
| 120-150k | 196 | 35.7% |
| 150k+ | 84 | 35.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 583 | 27.4% |
| Diesel | 520 | 32.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 331 | 28.1% |
| 2022 | 280 | 32.1% |
| 2023 | 219 | 31.5% |
| 2024 | 149 | 24.8% |
| 2025 | 124 | 31.4% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Avenger
On a 2008 Avenger, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.3% 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 (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.6% 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 Dodge Avengers pass their MOT?
70.3% of the 1,103 2008 Dodge Avenger MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Dodge Avenger?
Suspension, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.1%).
Does the 2008 Avenger get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.3% in the 30-60k band to 35.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,103 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.