2008 Dodge Caliber — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Dodge Caliber passed 66.3% of its 2,692 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 26.1% of the time, so this is 7.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and seat belts & restraints.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (22.3%) and lighting & signalling (19.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, prescribed areas and position lamp — pins and bushes alone was recorded 339 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 29.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.0% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 50.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 22.3% | 601 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 536 |
| 3 | Seat belts & restraints | 8.0% | 214 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.1% | 192 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.0% | 189 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.8% | 182 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 339 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 303 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 271 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 270 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 185 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 182 |
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 | 50.1% | 1,350 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.2% | 814 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.3% | 709 |
| 4 | Other defects | 14.6% | 392 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.3% | 357 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 315 |
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 | 64 | 29.7% |
| 30-60k | 351 | 27.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,029 | 33.9% |
| 90-120k | 883 | 34.5% |
| 120-150k | 262 | 37.4% |
| 150k+ | 97 | 35.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,198 | 33.4% |
| Diesel | 494 | 35.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 793 | 33.9% |
| 2022 | 658 | 31.9% |
| 2023 | 546 | 34.3% |
| 2024 | 408 | 34.8% |
| 2025 | 287 | 34.2% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Caliber
On a 2008 Caliber, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 22.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (22.3% 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 (19.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Seat belts & restraints (8.0% of tests): Belt damage or faulty pretensioners — usually straightforward but safety-critical. Typical repair: £50–£300.
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 Calibers pass their MOT?
66.3% of the 2,692 2008 Dodge Caliber MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Dodge Caliber?
Suspension, recorded in 22.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (19.9%).
Does the 2008 Caliber get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.7% in the 0-30k band to 35.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,692 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.