2008 Volkswagen Fox — MOT failures & pass rate
31,447 MOT tests on the 2008 Volkswagen Fox are in this dataset, and 70.4% of them passed. That is 2.6 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.4%) and suspension (15.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp and washers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 2,331 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 22.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.9% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 5,466 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.1% | 4,738 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.6% | 3,323 |
| 4 | Visibility | 10.3% | 3,226 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 2,753 |
| 6 | Brakes | 6.4% | 2,003 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 2,331 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 2,320 |
| 3 | Washers | 2,309 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,201 |
| 5 | Joints | 2,067 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,598 |
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 | 33.6% | 10,580 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.4% | 9,251 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 5,857 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.3% | 5,442 |
| 5 | Brakes | 14.8% | 4,654 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.8% | 3,708 |
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 | 1,658 | 22.8% |
| 30-60k | 6,540 | 24.4% |
| 60-90k | 11,211 | 29.8% |
| 90-120k | 8,311 | 32.8% |
| 120-150k | 2,659 | 34.6% |
| 150k+ | 585 | 33.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,141 | 28.1% |
| 2022 | 6,869 | 29.0% |
| 2023 | 6,429 | 30.0% |
| 2024 | 5,841 | 30.9% |
| 2025 | 5,167 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Fox
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.1% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.6% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Foxs pass their MOT?
70.4% of the 31,447 2008 Volkswagen Fox MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Volkswagen Fox?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.4% of tests, followed by suspension (15.1%).
Does the 2008 Fox get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.8% in the 0-30k band to 33.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,447 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.