2008 Suzuki Jimny — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,401 MOT tests, the 2008 Suzuki Jimny recorded a 77.7% pass rate. That is 4.2 percentage points better than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 26.5%. Failures cluster in brakes, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (10.4%) and body, structure & corrosion (8.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are chassis condition, integral vehicle structure condition and service brake performance — chassis condition alone was recorded 642 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.4% versus 10.1%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 31.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 10.4% | 770 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 628 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.1% | 601 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 562 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 332 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 316 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chassis condition | 642 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 379 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 377 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 375 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 341 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 293 |
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 | 31.1% | 2,301 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.1% | 1,562 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.8% | 1,394 |
| 4 | Tyres | 16.7% | 1,237 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.8% | 873 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.7% | 789 |
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 | 366 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,232 | 18.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,951 | 23.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,415 | 27.2% |
| 120-150k | 349 | 30.7% |
| 150k+ | 88 | 28.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,570 | 20.2% |
| 2022 | 1,581 | 22.1% |
| 2023 | 1,485 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 1,426 | 23.6% |
| 2025 | 1,339 | 23.2% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Jimny
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 10.4% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (10.4% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Suspension (8.1% 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 Suzuki Jimnys pass their MOT?
77.7% of the 7,401 2008 Suzuki Jimny MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Suzuki Jimny?
Brakes, recorded in 10.4% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (8.5%).
Does the 2008 Jimny get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 28.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,401 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.