2008 Dodge Nitro — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Dodge Nitro passed 71.3% of its 3,851 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.8 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 26.9%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (19.4%) and lighting & signalling (18.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), position lamp and ball joint — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 371 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 32.8% versus 23.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 19.4% | 746 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 701 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.8% | 377 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.0% | 230 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 170 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.4% | 168 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 371 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 333 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 224 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 221 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 205 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 169 |
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 | 28.5% | 1,096 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.4% | 977 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.3% | 975 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 563 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.5% | 404 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.5% | 366 |
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 | 265 | 23.0% |
| 60-90k | 983 | 26.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,542 | 29.5% |
| 120-150k | 795 | 30.2% |
| 150k+ | 259 | 32.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,459 | 29.2% |
| Petrol | 392 | 24.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 897 | 26.2% |
| 2022 | 855 | 29.0% |
| 2023 | 820 | 31.1% |
| 2024 | 695 | 29.5% |
| 2025 | 584 | 28.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Nitro
On a 2008 Nitro, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (19.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (18.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.8% 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.
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 Nitros pass their MOT?
71.3% of the 3,851 2008 Dodge Nitro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Dodge Nitro?
Brakes, recorded in 19.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.2%).
Does the 2008 Nitro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.0% in the 30-60k band to 32.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,851 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.