2008 Renault Master — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,400 MOT tests, the 2008 Renault Master recorded a 73.6% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 28.8% of the time, so this is 2.4pp better 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 (14.6%) and brakes (14.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), ball joint and position lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 640 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.3% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 1,080 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.3% | 1,062 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.8% | 577 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.5% | 410 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 341 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.8% | 282 |
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) | 640 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 365 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 364 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 339 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 302 |
| 6 | Wipers | 299 |
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 | 30.2% | 2,233 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.7% | 1,829 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.4% | 1,139 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 902 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.4% | 694 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.3% | 614 |
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 | 467 | 20.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,429 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,227 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 927 | 27.8% |
| 120-150k | 953 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 2,233 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,498 | 24.7% |
| 2022 | 1,548 | 27.3% |
| 2023 | 1,498 | 26.6% |
| 2024 | 1,442 | 26.6% |
| 2025 | 1,414 | 26.8% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Master
On a 2008 Master, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.3% 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 (7.8% 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 Masters pass their MOT?
73.6% of the 7,400 2008 Renault Master MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Renault Master?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by brakes (14.3%).
Does the 2008 Master get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.6% in the 0-30k band to 29.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,400 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.