2008 Vauxhall Astravan — MOT failures & pass rate
7,024 MOT tests on the 2008 Vauxhall Astravan are in this dataset, and 70.6% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail at 28.6%, so the 2008 Astravan sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 18.6% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, pins and bushes and washers — coil spring alone was recorded 703 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 31.2% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.6% | 1,308 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 1,076 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.4% | 802 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.7% | 542 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.5% | 525 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 396 |
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 | 703 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 487 |
| 3 | Washers | 381 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 362 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 312 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 297 |
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 | 40.4% | 2,840 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.5% | 2,492 |
| 3 | Tyres | 32.4% | 2,276 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.6% | 1,374 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 1,087 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.0% | 842 |
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 | 157 | 19.1% |
| 60-90k | 459 | 22.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,016 | 28.1% |
| 120-150k | 2,029 | 29.6% |
| 150k+ | 3,334 | 31.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,738 | 29.5% |
| Petrol | 280 | 27.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,952 | 29.6% |
| 2022 | 1,661 | 29.0% |
| 2023 | 1,394 | 28.5% |
| 2024 | 1,119 | 29.6% |
| 2025 | 898 | 30.7% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Astravan
On a 2008 Astravan, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (18.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.4% 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 Astravans pass their MOT?
70.6% of the 7,024 2008 Vauxhall Astravan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Vauxhall Astravan?
Suspension, recorded in 18.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.3%).
Does the 2008 Astravan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.1% in the 30-60k band to 31.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,024 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.