2008 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 95,178 MOT tests, the 2008 Ford Transit recorded a 68.7% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 28.6% of the time, so this is 2.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (20.9%) and suspension (20.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, integral vehicle structure condition and rigid brake pipes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 18,923 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.5% in the 0-30k band and 31.4% in the 150k+ band, a 13.9-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 47.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.3% in 2021 to 29.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.9% | 19,885 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.3% | 19,336 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.7% | 13,015 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.3% | 10,706 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.4% | 7,024 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.2% | 6,891 |
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 | 18,923 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 10,275 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 8,894 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 8,719 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 7,958 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 7,226 |
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 | 47.6% | 45,348 |
| 2 | Suspension | 38.7% | 36,824 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 22.0% | 20,913 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.7% | 20,634 |
| 5 | Tyres | 21.4% | 20,343 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 21.0% | 19,981 |
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 | 1,784 | 17.5% |
| 30-60k | 4,557 | 21.8% |
| 60-90k | 9,484 | 29.8% |
| 90-120k | 18,557 | 32.8% |
| 120-150k | 23,110 | 33.5% |
| 150k+ | 37,043 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 94,791 | 31.4% |
| Petrol | 385 | 27.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,609 | 32.3% |
| 2022 | 22,905 | 31.8% |
| 2023 | 19,008 | 31.3% |
| 2024 | 15,475 | 30.4% |
| 2025 | 12,181 | 29.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Transit
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (20.3% 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.
- Brakes (13.7% 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.
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 Transits pass their MOT?
68.7% of the 95,178 2008 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.9% of tests, followed by suspension (20.3%).
Does the 2008 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.5% in the 0-30k band to 31.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 95,178 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.