2008 Honda Accord — MOT failures & pass rate
19,899 MOT tests on the 2008 Honda Accord are in this dataset, and 76.6% of them passed. That is 2.7 percentage points better than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests against 10.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,555 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.5% versus 16.9%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 20.8% fail against 25.7% for diesel, a 4.9-point gap across 19,897 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 31.5% 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 | 16.3% | 3,237 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.4% | 2,074 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.9% | 1,768 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.6% | 1,112 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 834 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 509 |
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 | 1,555 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 1,412 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,371 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 1,122 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 731 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 650 |
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 | 31.5% | 6,267 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.4% | 5,446 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.4% | 5,063 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 3,627 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.1% | 2,206 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 1,511 |
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 | 166 | 16.9% |
| 30-60k | 994 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 3,009 | 18.0% |
| 90-120k | 4,905 | 22.6% |
| 120-150k | 4,739 | 25.9% |
| 150k+ | 6,065 | 26.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,515 | 25.7% |
| Petrol | 9,382 | 20.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,742 | 22.9% |
| 2022 | 4,391 | 22.6% |
| 2023 | 3,993 | 23.7% |
| 2024 | 3,588 | 23.9% |
| 2025 | 3,185 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Accord
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.4% 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 (8.9% 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.
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 Honda Accords pass their MOT?
76.6% of the 19,899 2008 Honda Accord MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Honda Accord?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by suspension (10.4%).
Does the 2008 Accord get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.9% in the 0-30k band to 26.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,899 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.