2008 Honda Legend — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 606 MOT tests, the 2008 Honda Legend recorded an 81.5% pass rate. That is 7.8 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.9%) and suspension (7.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, ball joint and wipers — position lamp alone was recorded 27 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 23.3% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 21.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 54 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.4% | 45 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.1% | 31 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.5% | 21 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.0% | 18 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 7 |
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 | 27 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 23 |
| 3 | Wipers | 22 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 5 | Linkage | 20 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 17 |
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 | 21.1% | 128 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.6% | 125 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.1% | 122 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 78 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.7% | 59 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.3% | 50 |
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 | 73 | 8.2% |
| 60-90k | 190 | 18.4% |
| 90-120k | 192 | 18.8% |
| 120-150k | 97 | 26.8% |
| 150k+ | 30 | 23.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 133 | 14.3% |
| 2022 | 120 | 17.5% |
| 2023 | 123 | 17.1% |
| 2024 | 123 | 21.9% |
| 2025 | 107 | 22.4% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Legend
On a 2008 Legend, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.4% 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.
- Visibility (5.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Legends pass their MOT?
81.5% of the 606 2008 Honda Legend MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Honda Legend?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.9% of tests, followed by suspension (7.4%).
Does the 2008 Legend get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 30-60k band to 23.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 606 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.