2008 Renault Trucks Master — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 296 MOT tests, the 2008 Renault Trucks Master recorded a 68.6% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), the 2008 Master comes out 5.1pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 19.9% of tests against 14.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), service brake performance and ball joint — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 34 times.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 29.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 29.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 33.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 19.9% | 59 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 44 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.5% | 34 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.4% | 16 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 16 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.7% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 34 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 22 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 16 |
| 4 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 12 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 6 | Wipers | 11 |
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 | 29.4% | 87 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.3% | 60 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 19.3% | 57 |
| 4 | Tyres | 13.9% | 41 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.5% | 31 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 30 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 150k+ | 237 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 62 | 29.0% |
| 2022 | 58 | 27.6% |
| 2023 | 63 | 34.9% |
| 2024 | 56 | 32.1% |
| 2025 | 57 | 33.3% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Master
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 19.9% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (19.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (14.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.5% 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 Renault Trucks Masters pass their MOT?
68.6% of the 296 2008 Renault Trucks Master MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Renault Trucks Master?
Brakes, recorded in 19.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.9%).
Methodology & source. Based on 296 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.