2008 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Ford Fiesta passed 73.2% of its 404,488 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail at 27.0%, so the 2008 Fiesta sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.8% of all tests — 5.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — stop lamp alone was recorded 28,497 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.0% versus 13.9%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.7pp more often than petrol ones (29.1% vs 26.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 32.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 71,902 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.2% | 49,372 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 34,736 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.4% | 25,823 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.0% | 24,442 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 19,961 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 28,497 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 28,140 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 22,835 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 22,595 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 19,720 |
| 6 | Wipers | 16,285 |
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 | 32.5% | 131,391 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.6% | 115,666 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.2% | 113,937 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.6% | 62,994 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 61,041 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 10.3% | 41,467 |
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 | 10,908 | 13.9% |
| 30-60k | 63,529 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 133,535 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 124,325 | 29.8% |
| 120-150k | 53,362 | 31.5% |
| 150k+ | 17,460 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 340,147 | 26.4% |
| Diesel | 64,339 | 29.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 94,224 | 25.4% |
| 2022 | 89,410 | 26.1% |
| 2023 | 82,540 | 27.0% |
| 2024 | 74,058 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 64,256 | 28.4% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Fiesta
On a 2008 Fiesta, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.2% 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.
- Brakes (8.6% 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 Ford Fiestas pass their MOT?
73.2% of the 404,488 2008 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Ford Fiesta?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by suspension (12.2%).
Does the 2008 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.9% in the 0-30k band to 32.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 404,488 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.