2008 Subaru Justy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,526 MOT tests, the 2008 Subaru Justy recorded a 77.2% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 26.2% of the time, so this is 3.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 13.0% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, rigid brake pipes and wipers — ball joint alone was recorded 115 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.1% once past 120-150k — 3.7× 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 — 20.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.0% | 199 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 147 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.2% | 110 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.8% | 89 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 64 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 64 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 115 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 68 |
| 3 | Wipers | 59 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 53 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joints | 52 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 52 |
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% | 543 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.6% | 467 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.5% | 389 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.3% | 234 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.5% | 222 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 140 |
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 | 89 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 465 | 17.4% |
| 60-90k | 597 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 320 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 55 | 29.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 356 | 20.2% |
| 2022 | 316 | 24.4% |
| 2023 | 299 | 19.1% |
| 2024 | 295 | 25.1% |
| 2025 | 260 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Justy
On a 2008 Justy, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.2% 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.
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 Subaru Justys pass their MOT?
77.2% of the 1,526 2008 Subaru Justy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Subaru Justy?
Suspension, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.6%).
Does the 2008 Justy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 29.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,526 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.