2008 Lotus Exige — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 468 MOT tests, the 2008 Lotus Exige recorded a 90.0% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), the 2008 Exige comes out 16.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 6.0% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and catalyst emissions — tread depth alone was recorded 15 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.7% in the 0-30k band and 13.9% in the 60-90k band, a 6.1-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 12.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 10.1% in 2021 to 6.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 28 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 12 |
| 3 | Tyres | 1.9% | 9 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.5% | 7 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.5% | 7 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.1% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 15 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 10 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 9 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 6 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 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 | Brakes | 12.0% | 56 |
| 2 | Tyres | 11.5% | 54 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.3% | 48 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 21 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 11 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 5 |
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 | 155 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 243 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 65 | 13.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 99 | 10.1% |
| 2022 | 95 | 11.6% |
| 2023 | 96 | 7.3% |
| 2024 | 97 | 14.4% |
| 2025 | 81 | 6.2% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Exige
On a 2008 Exige, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (2.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Tyres (1.9% 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 Lotus Exiges pass their MOT?
90.0% of the 468 2008 Lotus Exige MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Lotus Exige?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (2.6%).
Does the 2008 Exige get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 13.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 468 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.