2008 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Volkswagen Transporter passed 74.0% of its 83,774 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (28.8% fail rate), the 2008 Transporter comes out 2.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.5%) and suspension (13.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, joints and headlamp aim — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 4,418 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.5% versus 13.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 12,129 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.4% | 11,223 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.9% | 6,633 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.1% | 5,143 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 4,938 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 4,499 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 4,418 |
| 2 | Joints | 4,288 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 4,174 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 4,096 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 3,921 |
| 6 | Washers | 3,397 |
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 | 34.3% | 28,697 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.4% | 22,106 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.4% | 18,766 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 14,108 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.1% | 11,831 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 7,957 |
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 | 446 | 13.7% |
| 30-60k | 2,892 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 8,876 | 19.8% |
| 90-120k | 15,600 | 24.6% |
| 120-150k | 18,729 | 27.0% |
| 150k+ | 37,181 | 28.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 83,307 | 26.1% |
| Petrol | 467 | 23.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,053 | 25.4% |
| 2022 | 16,691 | 25.1% |
| 2023 | 16,817 | 26.2% |
| 2024 | 16,809 | 27.1% |
| 2025 | 16,404 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Transporter
On a 2008 Transporter, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.4% 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.
- Brakes (7.9% 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.
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 Transporters pass their MOT?
74.0% of the 83,774 2008 Volkswagen Transporter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Volkswagen Transporter?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests, followed by suspension (13.4%).
Does the 2008 Transporter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.7% in the 0-30k band to 28.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 83,774 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.