2008 Kia Carens — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,488 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Kia Carens, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 68.9% was below the average for cars of a similar age (75.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 35.7% in the 150k+ group versus 18.2% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 1,578 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.1% | 1,366 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.9% | 1,346 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.6% | 648 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.1% | 514 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 419 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 715 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 708 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 643 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 573 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 508 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 388 |
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 | 40.3% | 3,421 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.0% | 2,967 |
| 3 | Tyres | 32.8% | 2,786 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.9% | 1,095 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 1,086 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.3% | 1,045 |
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 | 44 | 18.2% |
| 30-60k | 657 | 26.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,766 | 29.8% |
| 90-120k | 3,239 | 32.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,332 | 32.7% |
| 150k+ | 448 | 35.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,329 | 31.2% |
| Petrol | 3,159 | 31.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,553 | 31.7% |
| 2022 | 2,056 | 30.4% |
| 2023 | 1,695 | 31.9% |
| 2024 | 1,264 | 30.9% |
| 2025 | 920 | 29.9% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Carens
Before buying a 2008 Kia Carens, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 18.6% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (18.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.1% 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 (15.9% 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 Kia Carenss pass their MOT?
68.9% of the 8,488 2008 Kia Carens MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Kia Carens?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.6% of tests, followed by suspension (16.1%).
Does the 2008 Carens get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.2% in the 0-30k band to 35.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,488 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.