2008 Vauxhall Combo — MOT failures & pass rate
44,275 MOT tests on the 2008 Vauxhall Combo are in this dataset, and 68.7% of them passed. That is 2.6 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 28.7%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (18.9%) and lighting & signalling (17.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — coil spring alone was recorded 3,276 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2008 Combo fails 31.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 32.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.4 points.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 6.2pp more often than petrol ones (31.4% vs 25.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.9% | 8,373 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 7,630 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.9% | 5,252 |
| 4 | Tyres | 9.1% | 4,015 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.6% | 3,791 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.4% | 3,714 |
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 | 3,276 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,179 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,691 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 2,484 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 2,354 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 2,353 |
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 | 39.1% | 17,305 |
| 2 | Brakes | 38.4% | 17,019 |
| 3 | Tyres | 33.3% | 14,760 |
| 4 | Other defects | 22.4% | 9,909 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 20.0% | 8,866 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 7,208 |
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 | 632 | 31.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,284 | 24.4% |
| 60-90k | 6,704 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 12,198 | 30.9% |
| 120-150k | 11,659 | 32.8% |
| 150k+ | 10,845 | 32.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 43,645 | 31.4% |
| Petrol | 630 | 25.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,740 | 30.9% |
| 2022 | 10,554 | 30.9% |
| 2023 | 8,967 | 31.4% |
| 2024 | 7,307 | 31.8% |
| 2025 | 5,707 | 31.9% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Combo
On a 2008 Combo, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (18.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (17.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.9% 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 Combos pass their MOT?
68.7% of the 44,275 2008 Vauxhall Combo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Vauxhall Combo?
Suspension, recorded in 18.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.2%).
Does the 2008 Combo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.2% in the 0-30k band to 32.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 44,275 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.