2008 Toyota Hi=Ace — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Toyota Hi=Ace passed 80.1% of its 7,895 recorded MOT tests. That is 6.3 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.1% of all tests — 4.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rigid brake pipes and wipers — position lamp alone was recorded 469 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.1% in the 0-30k band and 23.2% in the 150k+ band, a 4.2-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 1,034 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.6% | 683 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.7% | 610 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.2% | 408 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.8% | 301 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 297 |
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 | 469 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 349 |
| 3 | Wipers | 338 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 287 |
| 5 | Linkage pins and bushes | 286 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 260 |
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 | 34.8% | 2,744 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.6% | 2,261 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.6% | 1,704 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 1,092 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.1% | 879 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 659 |
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 | 63 | 19.1% |
| 30-60k | 434 | 10.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,017 | 15.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,454 | 16.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,575 | 21.5% |
| 150k+ | 3,348 | 23.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,742 | 19.8% |
| Petrol | 153 | 24.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,703 | 18.5% |
| 2022 | 1,689 | 19.8% |
| 2023 | 1,618 | 20.2% |
| 2024 | 1,498 | 20.4% |
| 2025 | 1,387 | 21.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Hi=Ace
On a 2008 Hi=Ace, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.6% 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 (7.7% 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 Hi=Aces pass their MOT?
80.1% of the 7,895 2008 Toyota Hi=Ace MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Toyota Hi=Ace?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.1% of tests, followed by suspension (8.6%).
Does the 2008 Hi=Ace get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.1% in the 0-30k band to 23.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,895 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.