2008 Vauxhall Antara — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Vauxhall Antara passed 69.6% of its 4,422 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (26.8% fail rate), the 2008 Antara comes out 3.6pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.4%) and suspension (15.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, pins and bushes and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 305 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.6% in the 30-60k band and 34.9% in the 150k+ band, a 11.3-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 723 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.7% | 693 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.2% | 630 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.1% | 403 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.5% | 287 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 284 |
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 | 305 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 290 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 251 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 242 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 226 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 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 | 40.8% | 1,802 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.0% | 1,549 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.4% | 1,343 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.7% | 1,180 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 20.7% | 915 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 672 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 165 | 23.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,065 | 28.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,976 | 31.6% |
| 120-150k | 932 | 29.9% |
| 150k+ | 249 | 34.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,367 | 30.4% |
| Petrol | 55 | 30.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,320 | 30.6% |
| 2022 | 1,099 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 880 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 668 | 32.5% |
| 2025 | 455 | 32.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Antara
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 (15.7% 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 (14.2% 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 Vauxhall Antaras pass their MOT?
69.6% of the 4,422 2008 Vauxhall Antara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Vauxhall Antara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by suspension (15.7%).
Does the 2008 Antara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.6% in the 30-60k band to 34.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,422 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.