2008 Ford C Max — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 80,482 MOT tests, the 2008 Ford C Max recorded a 72.1% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail at 28.2%, so the 2008 C Max sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.6%) and suspension (13.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 4,641 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.8% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.7pp more often than petrol ones (29.2% vs 27.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 11,726 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.8% | 11,064 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.6% | 6,125 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 5,263 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.4% | 5,153 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.9% | 3,943 |
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 | 4,641 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 4,111 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 3,929 |
| 4 | Joints | 3,862 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 3,761 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 3,728 |
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 | 36.5% | 29,410 |
| 2 | Tyres | 33.9% | 27,308 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.7% | 21,458 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.2% | 12,213 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 11,614 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 8,806 |
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 | 430 | 19.8% |
| 30-60k | 5,625 | 20.2% |
| 60-90k | 22,647 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 30,876 | 29.0% |
| 120-150k | 15,747 | 31.1% |
| 150k+ | 5,014 | 31.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 59,296 | 27.5% |
| Diesel | 21,186 | 29.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,410 | 27.1% |
| 2022 | 18,364 | 27.3% |
| 2023 | 16,555 | 28.2% |
| 2024 | 13,915 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 11,238 | 28.9% |
What to check before buying a 2008 C Max
On a 2008 C Max, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.8% 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.
- Tyres (7.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 Ford C Maxs pass their MOT?
72.1% of the 80,482 2008 Ford C Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Ford C Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by suspension (13.8%).
Does the 2008 C Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.8% in the 0-30k band to 31.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 80,482 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.