2008 Vauxhall Vivaro — MOT failures & pass rate
64,094 MOT tests on the 2008 Vauxhall Vivaro are in this dataset, and 68.0% of them passed. That is 3.3 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 28.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (19.9%) and suspension (17.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, ball joint and rbt (sp) — track rod end alone was recorded 6,515 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.7% versus 28.5%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 42.5% 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 | 19.9% | 12,752 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.9% | 11,486 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.3% | 11,063 |
| 4 | Steering | 9.6% | 6,161 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.9% | 5,068 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.1% | 3,299 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 6,515 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 6,162 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 5,502 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 5,296 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 4,922 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 3,724 |
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 | 42.5% | 27,252 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.8% | 19,132 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.6% | 15,741 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.9% | 14,059 |
| 5 | Other defects | 18.2% | 11,691 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 6,690 |
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 | 214 | 28.5% |
| 30-60k | 921 | 21.3% |
| 60-90k | 4,359 | 29.2% |
| 90-120k | 11,108 | 31.2% |
| 120-150k | 16,818 | 32.6% |
| 150k+ | 30,529 | 32.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 64,011 | 32.0% |
| Petrol | 83 | 27.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,414 | 31.8% |
| 2022 | 14,451 | 31.6% |
| 2023 | 13,072 | 31.8% |
| 2024 | 11,440 | 32.8% |
| 2025 | 9,717 | 32.3% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Vivaro
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.9% 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 (17.3% 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.
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 Vivaros pass their MOT?
68.0% of the 64,094 2008 Vauxhall Vivaro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Vauxhall Vivaro?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.9% of tests, followed by suspension (17.9%).
Does the 2008 Vivaro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.5% in the 0-30k band to 32.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 64,094 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.