2008 Mazda Bt-50 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Mazda Bt-50 passed 73.4% of its 1,717 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail at 26.2%, so the 2008 Bt-50 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.2% of all tests — 8.2 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, position lamp and rear fog lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 186 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 30.0% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.0% in 2021 to 26.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.2% | 347 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.1% | 207 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.4% | 179 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 163 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.4% | 110 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 82 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 186 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 171 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 118 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 95 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 86 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 79 |
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 | 37.8% | 649 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.3% | 520 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.4% | 368 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.4% | 334 |
| 5 | Tyres | 18.1% | 311 |
| 6 | Steering | 13.5% | 231 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 169 | 19.5% |
| 60-90k | 352 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 448 | 23.9% |
| 120-150k | 423 | 32.1% |
| 150k+ | 307 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 429 | 28.0% |
| 2022 | 375 | 26.7% |
| 2023 | 348 | 25.3% |
| 2024 | 305 | 26.6% |
| 2025 | 260 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Bt-50
On a 2008 Bt-50, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.1% 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 (10.4% 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 Mazda Bt-50s pass their MOT?
73.4% of the 1,717 2008 Mazda Bt-50 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Mazda Bt-50?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.2% of tests, followed by brakes (12.1%).
Does the 2008 Bt-50 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.5% in the 30-60k band to 30.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,717 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.