2008 Ford Mondeo — MOT failures & pass rate
115,368 MOT tests on the 2008 Ford Mondeo are in this dataset, and 73.4% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 25.9%, so the 2008 Mondeo sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.6%) and suspension (13.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 7,719 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.8% versus 18.1%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.3pp more often than petrol ones (27.1% vs 24.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 41.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 18,016 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.2% | 15,208 |
| 3 | Tyres | 8.0% | 9,182 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.8% | 8,977 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 6,209 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 5,257 |
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 | 4,058 |
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% | 48,161 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.4% | 36,195 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.4% | 30,471 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.9% | 14,920 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 14,573 |
| 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 | 27,428 | 25.8% |
| 120-150k | 31,684 | 27.6% |
| 150k+ | 39,472 | 28.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 89,440 | 27.1% |
| Petrol | 25,918 | 24.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 31,553 | 25.6% |
| 2022 | 27,318 | 25.9% |
| 2023 | 23,202 | 26.6% |
| 2024 | 18,787 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 14,508 | 28.3% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Mondeo
On a 2008 Mondeo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 115,368 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 115,368 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.