2008 Vauxhall Agila — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 21,506 MOT tests, the 2008 Vauxhall Agila recorded a 71.2% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 27.1% of the time, so this is 1.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 19.9% of all tests — 7.7 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, ball joint and service brake performance — coil spring alone was recorded 1,468 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.1% in the 0-30k band and 38.5% in the 150k+ band, a 19.4-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.6pp more often than petrol ones (32.2% vs 28.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.9% | 4,268 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.2% | 2,614 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 2,101 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.9% | 1,276 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.4% | 951 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 822 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,468 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 1,395 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 1,304 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 1,079 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,038 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 891 |
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 | 36.4% | 7,834 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.4% | 7,619 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.6% | 5,927 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.5% | 1,835 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.4% | 1,806 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 1,647 |
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 | 1,482 | 19.1% |
| 30-60k | 7,594 | 26.0% |
| 60-90k | 7,822 | 30.5% |
| 90-120k | 3,588 | 33.2% |
| 120-150k | 818 | 33.5% |
| 150k+ | 195 | 38.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 20,628 | 28.6% |
| Diesel | 878 | 32.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,723 | 27.1% |
| 2022 | 4,541 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 4,419 | 29.1% |
| 2024 | 4,072 | 29.6% |
| 2025 | 3,751 | 30.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Agila
On a 2008 Agila, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (19.9% 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 (12.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 Vauxhall Agilas pass their MOT?
71.2% of the 21,506 2008 Vauxhall Agila MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Vauxhall Agila?
Suspension, recorded in 19.9% of tests, followed by brakes (12.2%).
Does the 2008 Agila get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.1% in the 0-30k band to 38.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,506 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.