2008 Ford Motorhome — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Ford Motorhome passed 78.7% of its 301 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), the 2008 Motorhome comes out 5.0pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (13.3%) and lighting & signalling (12.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, rigid brake pipes and rbt (sp) — service brake performance alone was recorded 19 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.7% versus 19.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 13.3% | 40 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 36 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.6% | 20 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.6% | 11 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 10 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.7% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 19 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 18 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 14 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 13 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 12 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 12 |
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 | 31.9% | 96 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.3% | 70 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 33 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.6% | 32 |
| 5 | Tyres | 10.0% | 30 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.3% | 16 |
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 | 62 | 19.4% |
| 30-60k | 143 | 18.2% |
| 60-90k | 81 | 24.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 260 | 21.1% |
| Petrol | 41 | 21.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 67 | 14.9% |
| 2022 | 58 | 20.7% |
| 2023 | 57 | 24.6% |
| 2024 | 63 | 28.6% |
| 2025 | 56 | 17.9% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Motorhome
On a 2008 Motorhome, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (13.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.6% 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.
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 Motorhomes pass their MOT?
78.7% of the 301 2008 Ford Motorhome MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Ford Motorhome?
Brakes, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.0%).
Does the 2008 Motorhome get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.4% in the 0-30k band to 24.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 301 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.