2008 Volkswagen Passat — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 73,824 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Volkswagen Passat, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, body, structure & corrosion and tyres. Its pass rate of 74.8% was in line with the average for large family cars of a similar age (74.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 25.9% in the 150k+ group versus 16.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.0% | 9,563 |
| 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 | 2,370 |
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% | 30,748 |
| 2 | Tyres | 32.6% | 24,095 |
| 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% | 6,058 |
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 | 1,264 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 5,854 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 14,781 | 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 | 3,597 | 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 | 12,026 | 25.3% |
| 2025 | 9,539 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Passat
Before buying a 2008 Volkswagen Passat, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 13.0% of tests for this year.
- 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 73,824 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 73,824 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.