2008 Toyota Verso — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 516 MOT tests, the 2008 Toyota Verso recorded a 79.3% pass rate. That is 7.6 percentage points better than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 28.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.1% of all tests — 6.6 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and wipers — position lamp alone was recorded 39 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.1% in the 60-90k band and 25.2% in the 150k+ band, a 10.1-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 34.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 78 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.5% | 44 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.2% | 32 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 29 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 28 |
| 6 | Suspension | 4.7% | 24 |
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 | 39 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 25 |
| 3 | Wipers | 22 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 19 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 17 |
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 | 34.7% | 179 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.7% | 148 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.7% | 148 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 82 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.5% | 80 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.5% | 75 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 73 | 15.1% |
| 90-120k | 162 | 19.1% |
| 120-150k | 133 | 21.8% |
| 150k+ | 119 | 25.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 292 | 21.6% |
| Petrol | 224 | 19.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 123 | 24.4% |
| 2022 | 104 | 18.3% |
| 2023 | 106 | 19.8% |
| 2024 | 100 | 16.0% |
| 2025 | 83 | 25.3% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Verso
On a 2008 Verso, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.5% 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.
- Tyres (6.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 Versos pass their MOT?
79.3% of the 516 2008 Toyota Verso MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Toyota Verso?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests, followed by brakes (8.5%).
Does the 2008 Verso get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.1% in the 60-90k band to 25.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 516 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.