2008 Honda Fr-V — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Honda Fr-V passed 74.1% of its 11,732 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.4 percentage points better than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 28.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.3%) and suspension (13.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, component mounting prescribed areas and linkage ball joints — position lamp alone was recorded 909 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 30.2% versus 16.7%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.6pp more often than petrol ones (27.9% vs 24.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 42.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 1,793 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.1% | 1,531 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 1,015 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.8% | 798 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 579 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 570 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 909 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 794 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joints | 642 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 527 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 524 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 514 |
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 | 42.7% | 5,012 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.2% | 3,657 |
| 3 | Brakes | 29.7% | 3,481 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.1% | 2,481 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.6% | 1,479 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.0% | 1,412 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 443 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,989 | 21.0% |
| 90-120k | 3,608 | 25.8% |
| 120-150k | 3,367 | 27.2% |
| 150k+ | 2,311 | 30.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,449 | 24.3% |
| Diesel | 5,280 | 27.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,717 | 25.0% |
| 2022 | 2,534 | 23.8% |
| 2023 | 2,387 | 26.1% |
| 2024 | 2,155 | 27.0% |
| 2025 | 1,939 | 28.5% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Fr-V
On a 2008 Fr-V, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.1% 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 (8.6% 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 Fr-Vs pass their MOT?
74.1% of the 11,732 2008 Honda Fr-V MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Honda Fr-V?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by suspension (13.1%).
Does the 2008 Fr-V get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 30-60k band to 30.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,732 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.