2008 Volkswagen Crafter — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,807 MOT tests, the 2008 Volkswagen Crafter recorded a 74.0% pass rate. That is 2.9 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 28.9%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (15.8%) and lighting & signalling (12.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), service brake performance and headlamp aim — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 254 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2008 Crafter fails 24.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 27.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.1 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.8% | 443 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 362 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.8% | 192 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.7% | 160 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 149 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.7% | 131 |
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) | 254 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 142 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 125 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 124 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 111 |
| 6 | Wipers | 101 |
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 | 39.5% | 1,108 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.9% | 755 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 21.5% | 603 |
| 4 | Other defects | 19.6% | 550 |
| 5 | Tyres | 16.9% | 474 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 376 |
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 | 57 | 24.6% |
| 30-60k | 90 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 220 | 17.3% |
| 90-120k | 418 | 26.3% |
| 120-150k | 551 | 26.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,430 | 27.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 489 | 24.7% |
| 2022 | 542 | 25.3% |
| 2023 | 556 | 26.6% |
| 2024 | 635 | 26.8% |
| 2025 | 585 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Crafter
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 15.8% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (15.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.8% 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 Volkswagen Crafters pass their MOT?
74.0% of the 2,807 2008 Volkswagen Crafter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Volkswagen Crafter?
Brakes, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.9%).
Does the 2008 Crafter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.6% in the 0-30k band to 27.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,807 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.