2008 Ford Mondeo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 115,359 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Ford Mondeo, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres. Its pass rate of 73.4% was in line with the average for large family cars of a similar age (74.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 28.8% in the 150k+ group versus 18.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 18,016 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.2% | 15,206 |
| 3 | Tyres | 8.0% | 9,180 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.8% | 8,977 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 6,208 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 5,256 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 7,719 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 6,897 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 5,853 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 5,592 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 5,223 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 4,057 |
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 | 41.8% | 48,159 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.4% | 36,189 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.4% | 30,466 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.9% | 14,920 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 14,571 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.0% | 13,845 |
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 | 399 | 18.1% |
| 30-60k | 3,402 | 15.9% |
| 60-90k | 12,690 | 22.1% |
| 90-120k | 27,426 | 25.8% |
| 120-150k | 31,677 | 27.6% |
| 150k+ | 39,472 | 28.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 89,431 | 27.1% |
| Petrol | 25,918 | 24.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 31,551 | 25.6% |
| 2022 | 27,318 | 25.9% |
| 2023 | 23,200 | 26.6% |
| 2024 | 18,782 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 14,508 | 28.3% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Mondeo
Before buying a 2008 Ford Mondeo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 15.6% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (15.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.2% 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.
- Tyres (8.0% 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 Mondeos pass their MOT?
73.4% of the 115,359 2008 Ford Mondeo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Ford Mondeo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by suspension (13.2%).
Does the 2008 Mondeo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.1% in the 0-30k band to 28.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 115,359 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.