2008 Toyota Hiace — MOT failures & pass rate
2,654 MOT tests on the 2008 Toyota Hiace are in this dataset, and 80.3% of them passed. That is 6.5 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
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests against 8.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, position lamp and component mounting prescribed areas — wipers alone was recorded 149 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2008 Hiace fails 20.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 22.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.7 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.7% in 2021 to 18.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 345 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.2% | 218 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.2% | 192 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.5% | 173 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 88 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.1% | 83 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 149 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 148 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 112 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 104 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 97 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 81 |
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 | 32.9% | 874 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.0% | 664 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.4% | 514 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 373 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.5% | 278 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.5% | 252 |
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 | 30 | 20.0% |
| 30-60k | 158 | 12.7% |
| 60-90k | 345 | 16.2% |
| 90-120k | 531 | 17.0% |
| 120-150k | 538 | 21.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,051 | 22.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,526 | 20.0% |
| Petrol | 128 | 14.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 590 | 20.7% |
| 2022 | 562 | 18.1% |
| 2023 | 543 | 20.3% |
| 2024 | 496 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 463 | 18.8% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Hiace
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.2% 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 (7.2% 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 Hiaces pass their MOT?
80.3% of the 2,654 2008 Toyota Hiace MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Toyota Hiace?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by suspension (8.2%).
Does the 2008 Hiace get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 0-30k band to 22.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,654 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.