2008 Vauxhall Movano — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Vauxhall Movano passed 70.7% of its 2,220 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail at 28.8%, so the 2008 Movano sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.7%) and brakes (16.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), ball joint and position lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 235 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2008 Movano fails 29.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 33.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.8 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 34.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.7% | 392 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.3% | 361 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.6% | 235 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 166 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.9% | 132 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.3% | 95 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 235 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 161 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 143 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 110 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 107 |
| 6 | Joints | 102 |
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 | 34.5% | 767 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.0% | 688 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.8% | 394 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 375 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.0% | 266 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.6% | 258 |
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 | 99 | 29.3% |
| 30-60k | 132 | 22.7% |
| 60-90k | 249 | 24.5% |
| 90-120k | 353 | 24.4% |
| 120-150k | 389 | 28.5% |
| 150k+ | 927 | 33.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 408 | 27.0% |
| 2022 | 472 | 28.6% |
| 2023 | 465 | 31.2% |
| 2024 | 446 | 29.6% |
| 2025 | 429 | 30.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Movano
On a 2008 Movano, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.3% 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.
- Suspension (10.6% 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.
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 Movanos pass their MOT?
70.7% of the 2,220 2008 Vauxhall Movano MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Vauxhall Movano?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.7% of tests, followed by brakes (16.3%).
Does the 2008 Movano get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.3% in the 0-30k band to 33.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,220 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.