2008 Piaggio Porter — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Piaggio Porter passed 70.8% of its 776 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), the 2008 Porter comes out 3.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.4% of tests against 13.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and catalyst emissions — service brake performance alone was recorded 79 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 26.6% in the 0-30k band and 37.8% in the 90-120k band, a 11.2-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 28.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.8% in 2021 to 25.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.4% | 158 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.1% | 102 |
| 3 | Visibility | 10.4% | 81 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 74 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.4% | 73 |
| 6 | Suspension | 7.2% | 56 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 79 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 70 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 66 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 56 |
| 5 | Wipers | 56 |
| 6 | Washers | 41 |
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 | 28.0% | 217 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.2% | 211 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.9% | 178 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.2% | 149 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.3% | 134 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.0% | 124 |
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 | 143 | 26.6% |
| 30-60k | 332 | 26.8% |
| 60-90k | 229 | 32.8% |
| 90-120k | 45 | 37.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 174 | 32.8% |
| 2022 | 157 | 28.7% |
| 2023 | 155 | 27.7% |
| 2024 | 155 | 31.0% |
| 2025 | 135 | 25.2% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Porter
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.1% 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.
- Visibility (10.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Piaggio Porters pass their MOT?
70.8% of the 776 2008 Piaggio Porter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Piaggio Porter?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.4% of tests, followed by brakes (13.1%).
Does the 2008 Porter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.6% in the 0-30k band to 37.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 776 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.