2008 Honda Jazz — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 137,448 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Honda Jazz, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 75.1% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (73.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 31.8% in the 150k+ group versus 14.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 19,220 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.5% | 18,529 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.0% | 12,431 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.5% | 7,628 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.7% | 6,401 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 5,503 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 9,252 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 8,561 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 6,533 |
| 4 | Wipers | 6,023 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 5,858 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 5,786 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 39.1% | 53,730 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.8% | 43,676 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.6% | 36,589 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 22,870 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.1% | 13,906 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.7% | 11,957 |
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 | 5,786 | 14.7% |
| 30-60k | 34,704 | 20.1% |
| 60-90k | 48,306 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 32,313 | 28.6% |
| 120-150k | 12,439 | 30.5% |
| 150k+ | 3,872 | 31.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 137,361 | 24.9% |
| Diesel | 87 | 19.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 28,862 | 22.4% |
| 2022 | 28,459 | 23.4% |
| 2023 | 27,978 | 25.2% |
| 2024 | 27,066 | 26.7% |
| 2025 | 25,083 | 27.0% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Jazz
Before buying a 2008 Honda Jazz, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 14.0% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.5% 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.
- Suspension (9.0% 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.
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 Honda Jazzs pass their MOT?
75.1% of the 137,448 2008 Honda Jazz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Honda Jazz?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by brakes (13.5%).
Does the 2008 Jazz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.7% in the 0-30k band to 31.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 137,448 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.