2008 Volkswagen Touran — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 37,069 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Volkswagen Touran, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 72.9% was above the average for MPVs of a similar age (71.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 27.7% in the 150k+ group versus 16.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.7% | 5,819 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 3,764 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.4% | 3,110 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.8% | 2,910 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.3% | 2,318 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 1,807 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 2,803 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 1,781 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 1,733 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,716 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,706 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 1,500 |
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 | 42.7% | 15,827 |
| 2 | Tyres | 33.6% | 12,459 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.4% | 7,946 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.4% | 5,704 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.3% | 5,310 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 4,673 |
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 | 86 | 16.3% |
| 30-60k | 923 | 22.0% |
| 60-90k | 4,049 | 24.0% |
| 90-120k | 9,520 | 27.0% |
| 120-150k | 11,422 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 11,061 | 27.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 32,205 | 27.2% |
| Petrol | 4,864 | 26.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,637 | 26.2% |
| 2022 | 8,340 | 26.9% |
| 2023 | 7,680 | 27.4% |
| 2024 | 6,694 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 5,718 | 27.8% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Touran
Before buying a 2008 Volkswagen Touran, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 15.7% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (15.7% 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 (10.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.4% 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 Tourans pass their MOT?
72.9% of the 37,069 2008 Volkswagen Touran MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Volkswagen Touran?
Suspension, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.2%).
Does the 2008 Touran get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.3% in the 0-30k band to 27.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 37,069 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.