2008 Hyundai Amica — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,105 MOT tests, the 2008 Hyundai Amica recorded a 76.4% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 27.0% of the time, so this is 3.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.6% of all tests — 5.4 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, position lamp and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 332 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.6% in the 0-30k band and 28.8% in the 120-150k band, a 13.2-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 29.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 833 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.2% | 502 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.7% | 470 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.3% | 444 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.1% | 371 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 356 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 332 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 321 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 317 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 316 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 238 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 230 |
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 | 29.1% | 1,779 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.6% | 1,749 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.8% | 1,207 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.2% | 745 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.5% | 641 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 637 |
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 | 718 | 15.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,478 | 20.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,045 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 721 | 30.8% |
| 120-150k | 125 | 28.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,438 | 22.9% |
| 2022 | 1,370 | 23.8% |
| 2023 | 1,269 | 24.0% |
| 2024 | 1,097 | 23.3% |
| 2025 | 931 | 23.9% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Amica
On a 2008 Amica, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.2% 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.
- Tyres (7.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 Amicas pass their MOT?
76.4% of the 6,105 2008 Hyundai Amica MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Hyundai Amica?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by brakes (8.2%).
Does the 2008 Amica get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.6% in the 0-30k band to 28.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,105 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.