2008 Fiat Bravo — MOT failures & pass rate
13,356 MOT tests on the 2008 Fiat Bravo are in this dataset, and 67.6% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 26.0% of the time, so this is 6.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 17.2% of tests against 13.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, washers and exhaust system — coil spring alone was recorded 1,260 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.0% in the 0-30k band and 35.6% in the 150k+ band, a 15.6-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 32.0% of the time against 33.1% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.2% | 2,293 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 1,794 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.7% | 1,428 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 1,350 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.4% | 1,121 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.8% | 1,037 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,260 |
| 2 | Washers | 899 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 776 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 726 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 682 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 611 |
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 | 32.7% | 4,373 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.5% | 4,206 |
| 3 | Tyres | 31.0% | 4,138 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.8% | 2,649 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.8% | 2,249 |
| 6 | Other defects | 16.1% | 2,147 |
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 | 105 | 20.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,173 | 25.7% |
| 60-90k | 4,086 | 31.4% |
| 90-120k | 5,022 | 33.4% |
| 120-150k | 2,152 | 34.8% |
| 150k+ | 809 | 35.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 8,995 | 32.0% |
| Diesel | 4,361 | 33.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,167 | 32.0% |
| 2022 | 3,337 | 32.4% |
| 2023 | 2,623 | 33.1% |
| 2024 | 1,864 | 31.8% |
| 2025 | 1,365 | 33.0% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Bravo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 17.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (17.2% 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 (13.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.7% 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 Fiat Bravos pass their MOT?
67.6% of the 13,356 2008 Fiat Bravo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Fiat Bravo?
Suspension, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.4%).
Does the 2008 Bravo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 0-30k band to 35.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,356 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.