2008 Dodge Caliber Sxt A — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Dodge Caliber Sxt A passed 64.7% of its 524 recorded MOT tests. That is 9.3 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and steering.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (25.8%) and suspension (23.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, pins and bushes and ball joint — position lamp alone was recorded 82 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 32.5% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 46.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 33.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 46.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 25.8% | 135 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.8% | 125 |
| 3 | Steering | 9.5% | 50 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 48 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.8% | 46 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.2% | 38 |
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 | 82 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 79 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 60 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 52 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 48 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 45 |
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 | 46.0% | 241 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.0% | 157 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.7% | 119 |
| 4 | Other defects | 16.8% | 88 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 85 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.8% | 67 |
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 | 65 | 23.1% |
| 60-90k | 217 | 34.1% |
| 90-120k | 184 | 41.9% |
| 120-150k | 40 | 32.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 168 | 33.9% |
| 2022 | 119 | 35.3% |
| 2023 | 90 | 31.1% |
| 2024 | 84 | 34.5% |
| 2025 | 63 | 46.0% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Caliber Sxt A
On a 2008 Caliber Sxt A, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 25.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (25.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (23.8% 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.
- Steering (9.5% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
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 Caliber Sxt As pass their MOT?
64.7% of the 524 2008 Dodge Caliber Sxt A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 35.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Dodge Caliber Sxt A?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 25.8% of tests, followed by suspension (23.8%).
Does the 2008 Caliber Sxt A get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.1% in the 30-60k band to 32.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 524 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.