2008 Ford Mustang — MOT failures & pass rate
1,260 MOT tests on the 2008 Ford Mustang are in this dataset, and 87.9% of them passed. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 21.0% of the time, so this is 8.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.4% of tests against 3.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rear fog lamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 31 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.4% once past 120-150k — 3.2× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 16.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 119 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.9% | 49 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.7% | 47 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 25 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 25 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.6% | 20 |
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 | 31 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 31 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 30 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 30 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 27 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 21 |
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 | 16.4% | 206 |
| 2 | Tyres | 14.1% | 178 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.2% | 154 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.6% | 70 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.2% | 66 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.4% | 55 |
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 | 351 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 400 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 296 | 15.2% |
| 90-120k | 137 | 14.6% |
| 120-150k | 62 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 298 | 11.4% |
| 2022 | 250 | 14.0% |
| 2023 | 250 | 10.8% |
| 2024 | 231 | 12.6% |
| 2025 | 231 | 12.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Mustang
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.9% 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.
- Suspension (3.7% 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 Mustangs pass their MOT?
87.9% of the 1,260 2008 Ford Mustang MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Ford Mustang?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.4% of tests, followed by brakes (3.9%).
Does the 2008 Mustang get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.0% in the 0-30k band to 19.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,260 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.