2008 Honda Odyssey — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 301 MOT tests, the 2008 Honda Odyssey recorded an 86.4% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (26.4% fail rate), the 2008 Odyssey comes out 12.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.6% of tests against 4.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, ball joint and exhaust system — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 14 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.8% in the 30-60k band and 26.7% in the 150k+ band, a 13.8-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 29 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.3% | 13 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.0% | 12 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 9 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.0% | 9 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.7% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 14 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 10 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 8 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 7 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 6 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 19.6% | 59 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.3% | 49 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.0% | 42 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.0% | 27 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 27 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 20 |
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 | 39 | 12.8% |
| 60-90k | 104 | 7.7% |
| 90-120k | 75 | 18.7% |
| 150k+ | 45 | 26.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 50 | 12.0% |
| 2022 | 62 | 16.1% |
| 2023 | 62 | 9.7% |
| 2024 | 67 | 14.9% |
| 2025 | 60 | 15.0% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Odyssey
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.3% 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.
- Suspension (4.0% 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.
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 Odysseys pass their MOT?
86.4% of the 301 2008 Honda Odyssey MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Honda Odyssey?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.6% of tests, followed by brakes (4.3%).
Does the 2008 Odyssey get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 30-60k band to 26.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 301 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.