2008 Hyundai Accent — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 803 MOT tests, the 2008 Hyundai Accent recorded a 75.5% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail 27.0% of the time, so this is 2.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.7% of tests against 11.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, position lamp and ball joint — stop lamp alone was recorded 65 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.7% in the 0-30k band and 31.4% in the 150k+ band, a 14.8-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 126 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.7% | 94 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.7% | 78 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.6% | 53 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.1% | 49 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 20 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 65 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 49 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 49 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 45 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 41 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 36 |
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 | 38.2% | 307 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.9% | 264 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.5% | 245 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.7% | 150 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.2% | 106 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 59 |
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 | 30 | 16.7% |
| 30-60k | 208 | 20.2% |
| 60-90k | 289 | 25.9% |
| 90-120k | 171 | 27.5% |
| 120-150k | 70 | 24.3% |
| 150k+ | 35 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 194 | 23.2% |
| 2022 | 182 | 24.7% |
| 2023 | 163 | 24.5% |
| 2024 | 142 | 25.4% |
| 2025 | 122 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Accent
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.7% 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 (9.7% 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 Hyundai Accents pass their MOT?
75.5% of the 803 2008 Hyundai Accent MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Hyundai Accent?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by brakes (11.7%).
Does the 2008 Accent get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 0-30k band to 31.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 803 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.