2008 Toyota Yaris — MOT failures & pass rate
149,065 MOT tests on the 2008 Toyota Yaris are in this dataset, and 75.9% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (27.1% fail rate), the 2008 Yaris comes out 3.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests against 12.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, coil spring and wipers — position lamp alone was recorded 9,856 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.0% versus 13.2%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 23.9% of the time against 24.6% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 24,480 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.4% | 18,491 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.7% | 9,990 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.0% | 8,928 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 7,766 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 7,505 |
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 | 9,856 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 7,236 |
| 3 | Wipers | 6,608 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 6,490 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 6,241 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 6,223 |
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 | 33.9% | 50,580 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.8% | 44,378 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.0% | 40,225 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.1% | 25,467 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.1% | 24,037 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 11,835 |
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 | 4,056 | 13.2% |
| 30-60k | 26,481 | 18.8% |
| 60-90k | 49,753 | 23.7% |
| 90-120k | 41,120 | 26.4% |
| 120-150k | 18,979 | 27.5% |
| 150k+ | 8,640 | 28.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 121,030 | 23.9% |
| Diesel | 28,034 | 24.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 31,799 | 23.3% |
| 2022 | 31,137 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 30,314 | 24.2% |
| 2024 | 28,846 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 26,969 | 25.3% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Yaris
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.4% 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 (6.7% 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 Yariss pass their MOT?
75.9% of the 149,065 2008 Toyota Yaris MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Toyota Yaris?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by suspension (12.4%).
Does the 2008 Yaris get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.2% in the 0-30k band to 28.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 149,065 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.