2008 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 95,178 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Ford Transit, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 68.7% was below the average for vans of a similar age (71.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 31.4% in the 150k+ group versus 17.5% in the 0-30k group.
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
Before buying a 2008 Ford Transit, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 20.9% of tests for this year.
- 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 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.