2008 Volkswagen Tiguan — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 29,129 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Volkswagen Tiguan, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres. Its pass rate of 75.7% was above the average for mid-size SUVs of a similar age (73.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 25.5% in the 150k+ group versus 17.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.8% | 4,601 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 2,725 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.2% | 1,808 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 1,402 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.7% | 1,369 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 1,074 |
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 | 1,989 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,481 |
| 3 | Ball joint dust cover | 1,259 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,257 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 1,193 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,041 |
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 | 41.9% | 12,201 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.7% | 8,659 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.9% | 6,957 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.3% | 3,294 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 3,106 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 2,902 |
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 | 80 | 17.5% |
| 30-60k | 629 | 18.3% |
| 60-90k | 3,833 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 9,334 | 24.3% |
| 120-150k | 9,426 | 25.1% |
| 150k+ | 5,815 | 25.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 27,455 | 24.3% |
| Petrol | 1,674 | 23.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,675 | 23.8% |
| 2022 | 6,365 | 23.4% |
| 2023 | 5,925 | 24.6% |
| 2024 | 5,427 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 4,737 | 25.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Tiguan
Before buying a 2008 Volkswagen Tiguan, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 15.8% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (15.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.2% 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 Tiguans pass their MOT?
75.7% of the 29,129 2008 Volkswagen Tiguan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Suspension, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.3%).
Does the 2008 Tiguan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.5% in the 0-30k band to 25.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 29,129 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.