2008 Mazda Bongo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,640 MOT tests, the 2008 Mazda Bongo recorded a 65.5% pass rate. That is 6.5 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 28.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (20.5%) and suspension (20.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, integral vehicle structure condition and headlamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 947 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 36.2% versus 31.1%.
The diesel cars hold up better: 33.8% fail against 37.3% for petrol, a 3.5-point gap across 3,640 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 35.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 36.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.5% | 748 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.0% | 727 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.0% | 508 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.5% | 381 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.2% | 261 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 202 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 947 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 398 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 280 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 277 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 233 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 214 |
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 | 35.0% | 1,274 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.7% | 1,117 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.2% | 808 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.2% | 807 |
| 5 | Tyres | 19.2% | 698 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 619 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 219 | 31.1% |
| 90-120k | 596 | 32.6% |
| 120-150k | 885 | 33.7% |
| 150k+ | 1,894 | 36.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,860 | 33.8% |
| Petrol | 780 | 37.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 986 | 35.1% |
| 2022 | 910 | 34.4% |
| 2023 | 836 | 33.7% |
| 2024 | 490 | 33.3% |
| 2025 | 418 | 36.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Bongo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (20.0% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.0% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Mazda Bongos pass their MOT?
65.5% of the 3,640 2008 Mazda Bongo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Mazda Bongo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.5% of tests, followed by suspension (20.0%).
Does the 2008 Bongo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.1% in the 60-90k band to 36.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,640 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.