2008 Volkswagen Passat — MOT failures & pass rate
73,831 MOT tests on the 2008 Volkswagen Passat are in this dataset, and 74.8% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 25.9%, so the 2008 Passat sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, body, structure & corrosion and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 13.0% of all tests — 4.9 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, joints and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 5,058 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.9% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.5pp more often than petrol ones (25.3% vs 21.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 41.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.0% | 9,564 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 5,935 |
| 3 | Tyres | 8.0% | 5,883 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 5,841 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 4,690 |
| 6 | Brakes | 5.6% | 4,122 |
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 | 5,058 |
| 2 | Joints | 4,001 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 3,719 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 3,068 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,416 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 2,371 |
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 | 41.6% | 30,749 |
| 2 | Tyres | 32.6% | 24,097 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.4% | 17,306 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 9,884 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.3% | 9,066 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 6,060 |
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 | 113 | 16.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,266 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 5,856 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 14,784 | 24.9% |
| 120-150k | 20,999 | 25.4% |
| 150k+ | 30,782 | 25.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 70,221 | 25.3% |
| Petrol | 3,604 | 21.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,906 | 25.4% |
| 2022 | 17,382 | 24.7% |
| 2023 | 14,971 | 25.2% |
| 2024 | 12,029 | 25.3% |
| 2025 | 9,543 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Passat
On a 2008 Passat, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.0% 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 (8.0% 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+.
- Tyres (8.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 Passats pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 73,831 2008 Volkswagen Passat MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Volkswagen Passat?
Suspension, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (8.0%).
Does the 2008 Passat get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.8% in the 0-30k band to 25.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 73,831 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.