2008 Toyota Aygo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Toyota Aygo passed 72.7% of its 77,143 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as city cars of a similar age (27.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.6%) and brakes (12.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, component mounting prescribed areas and position lamp — service brake performance alone was recorded 6,512 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.9% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 12,056 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.9% | 9,923 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.0% | 8,491 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 4,613 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 4,131 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.3% | 4,118 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 6,512 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 5,961 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 4,577 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 4,443 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 3,461 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 3,336 |
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 | 35.6% | 27,483 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.8% | 26,864 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.5% | 21,191 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 10,472 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.6% | 9,754 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.1% | 6,986 |
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 | 3,392 | 14.9% |
| 30-60k | 17,807 | 22.7% |
| 60-90k | 28,861 | 27.8% |
| 90-120k | 19,173 | 30.9% |
| 120-150k | 6,300 | 32.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,590 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,462 | 25.1% |
| 2022 | 16,271 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 15,825 | 27.8% |
| 2024 | 15,006 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 13,579 | 28.9% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Aygo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.9% 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 (11.0% 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.
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 Aygos pass their MOT?
72.7% of the 77,143 2008 Toyota Aygo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Toyota Aygo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by brakes (12.9%).
Does the 2008 Aygo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.9% in the 0-30k band to 32.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 77,143 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.