2008 Toyota Auris — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Toyota Auris passed 77.4% of its 75,825 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 26.3% of the time, so this is 3.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.0% of tests against 10.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rigid brake pipes and rbt (sp) — position lamp alone was recorded 6,998 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.3% in the 0-30k band and 29.5% in the 150k+ band, a 17.2-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.0% fail against 24.8% for diesel, a 2.8-point gap across 75,806 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 42.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 12,156 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.7% | 8,119 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.9% | 6,726 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.1% | 3,874 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.7% | 3,578 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.2% | 2,430 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 6,998 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 4,085 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 3,292 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 3,244 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,975 |
| 6 | Wipers | 2,795 |
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 | 42.6% | 32,271 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.8% | 24,869 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.1% | 19,774 |
| 4 | Other defects | 16.1% | 12,187 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.8% | 8,956 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 8,324 |
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 | 1,048 | 12.3% |
| 30-60k | 8,754 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 23,119 | 20.0% |
| 90-120k | 24,781 | 24.3% |
| 120-150k | 12,801 | 26.9% |
| 150k+ | 5,301 | 29.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 60,219 | 22.0% |
| Diesel | 15,587 | 24.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,825 | 21.3% |
| 2022 | 16,347 | 22.1% |
| 2023 | 15,421 | 22.6% |
| 2024 | 14,342 | 23.6% |
| 2025 | 12,890 | 23.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Auris
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.7% 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 (8.9% 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 Toyota Auriss pass their MOT?
77.4% of the 75,825 2008 Toyota Auris MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Toyota Auris?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.0% of tests, followed by brakes (10.7%).
Does the 2008 Auris get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.3% in the 0-30k band to 29.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 75,825 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.