2008 Ford Ka + — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 46,259 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Ford Ka +, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 65.8% was below the average for city cars of a similar age (73.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 38.9% in the 150k+ group versus 23.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 23.3% | 10,799 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 7,644 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.7% | 4,499 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.0% | 3,224 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.6% | 3,035 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.5% | 2,997 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 13,326 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 4,888 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 3,766 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 3,674 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 2,995 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 2,524 |
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 | 40.2% | 18,605 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.1% | 12,531 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.4% | 8,065 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.9% | 7,824 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.3% | 5,240 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 4,238 |
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 | 6,262 | 23.0% |
| 30-60k | 21,034 | 33.0% |
| 60-90k | 15,204 | 38.9% |
| 90-120k | 3,268 | 40.6% |
| 120-150k | 429 | 39.6% |
| 150k+ | 36 | 38.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 46,060 | 34.2% |
| Diesel | 199 | 32.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,093 | 34.6% |
| 2022 | 11,436 | 34.4% |
| 2023 | 8,759 | 34.1% |
| 2024 | 6,375 | 33.6% |
| 2025 | 4,596 | 33.5% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Ka +
Before buying a 2008 Ford Ka +, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 23.3% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (23.3% 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 (16.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.7% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Ka +s pass their MOT?
65.8% of the 46,259 2008 Ford Ka + MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Ford Ka +?
Suspension, recorded in 23.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.5%).
Does the 2008 Ka + get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.0% in the 0-30k band to 38.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 46,259 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.