2008 Honda Civic — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Honda Civic passed 73.5% of its 150,246 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.4% of tests against 14.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 13,919 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.3% once past 150k.
The electric cars hold up better: 17.8% fail against 29.1% for diesel, a 11.3-point gap across 40,536 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.4% | 29,192 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.1% | 21,164 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 11,419 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 8,685 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 6,896 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 4,691 |
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 | 13,919 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 11,013 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 10,139 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 7,568 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 6,334 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 5,906 |
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 | 33.7% | 50,589 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.7% | 43,149 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.4% | 38,224 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.0% | 29,988 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.3% | 23,036 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 13,176 |
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 | 1,003 | 17.3% |
| 30-60k | 8,211 | 18.2% |
| 60-90k | 32,196 | 23.6% |
| 90-120k | 50,075 | 26.6% |
| 120-150k | 36,029 | 28.4% |
| 150k+ | 22,543 | 30.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 105,469 | 25.9% |
| Diesel | 39,104 | 29.1% |
| Hybrid | 2,967 | 19.8% |
| Electric | 1,432 | 17.8% |
| Other | 1,274 | 19.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 34,907 | 25.2% |
| 2022 | 33,133 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 30,769 | 26.4% |
| 2024 | 27,558 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 23,879 | 28.3% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Civic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.1% 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 (7.6% 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 Civics pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 150,246 2008 Honda Civic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Honda Civic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.4% of tests, followed by suspension (14.1%).
Does the 2008 Civic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.3% in the 0-30k band to 30.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 150,246 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.