2008 Toyota Avensis — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Toyota Avensis passed 75.5% of its 38,575 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.6 percentage points better than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.8% of all tests — 7.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, coil spring and rigid brake pipes — position lamp alone was recorded 3,336 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.3% versus 11.6%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.1pp more often than petrol ones (25.9% vs 22.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 6,879 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.2% | 3,947 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.7% | 3,748 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.1% | 1,967 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 1,719 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 1,268 |
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 | 3,336 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 2,376 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,165 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,681 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,468 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,467 |
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 | 31.5% | 12,138 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.8% | 11,874 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.9% | 10,008 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 4,835 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.3% | 4,733 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 3,190 |
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 | 250 | 11.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,369 | 15.3% |
| 60-90k | 7,013 | 20.4% |
| 90-120k | 10,260 | 25.2% |
| 120-150k | 8,270 | 26.4% |
| 150k+ | 10,404 | 27.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 20,662 | 25.9% |
| Petrol | 17,907 | 22.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,736 | 24.5% |
| 2022 | 8,678 | 23.4% |
| 2023 | 7,820 | 24.8% |
| 2024 | 6,600 | 24.3% |
| 2025 | 5,741 | 25.7% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Avensis
On a 2008 Avensis, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.2% 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.
- Brakes (9.7% 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.
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 Avensiss pass their MOT?
75.5% of the 38,575 2008 Toyota Avensis MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Toyota Avensis?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by suspension (10.2%).
Does the 2008 Avensis get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.6% in the 0-30k band to 27.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 38,575 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.