2008 Proton Gen 2 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 817 MOT tests, the 2008 Proton Gen 2 recorded a 69.8% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 25.9% of the time, so this is 4.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.2%) and brakes (15.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rbt (sp) and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 80 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.3% once past 90-120k — 2.4× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 34.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 149 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.9% | 130 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.0% | 106 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 65 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.6% | 54 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 48 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 80 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 58 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 54 |
| 4 | Wipers | 43 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 34 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 34 |
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 | 35.6% | 291 |
| 2 | Tyres | 32.6% | 266 |
| 3 | Brakes | 32.1% | 262 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 143 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.2% | 124 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.9% | 97 |
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 | 60 | 15.0% |
| 30-60k | 240 | 27.5% |
| 60-90k | 336 | 32.1% |
| 90-120k | 139 | 35.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 262 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 198 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 157 | 31.9% |
| 2024 | 114 | 33.3% |
| 2025 | 86 | 34.9% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Gen 2
On a 2008 Gen 2, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Suspension (13.0% 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.
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 Proton Gen 2s pass their MOT?
69.8% of the 817 2008 Proton Gen 2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Proton Gen 2?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.2% of tests, followed by brakes (15.9%).
Does the 2008 Gen 2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.0% in the 0-30k band to 35.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 817 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.