2008 Volkswagen Touareg — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 9,882 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 76.3% was in line with the average for large SUVs of a similar age (77.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 24.9% in the 150k+ group versus 9.3% in the 30-60k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 1,381 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.3% | 1,114 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 790 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.3% | 527 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 433 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 347 |
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 | 917 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 442 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 439 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 340 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 334 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 317 |
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 | 27.8% | 2,742 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.3% | 2,501 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.5% | 2,420 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 1,713 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.1% | 1,687 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.4% | 934 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 108 | 9.3% |
| 60-90k | 899 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 2,716 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 3,362 | 23.9% |
| 150k+ | 2,752 | 24.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,732 | 23.7% |
| Petrol | 150 | 21.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,394 | 23.8% |
| 2022 | 2,177 | 22.9% |
| 2023 | 2,016 | 24.1% |
| 2024 | 1,810 | 24.5% |
| 2025 | 1,485 | 23.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Touareg
Before buying a 2008 Volkswagen Touareg, 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.
- Suspension (11.3% 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 (8.0% 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 Touaregs pass their MOT?
76.3% of the 9,882 2008 Volkswagen Touareg MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Volkswagen Touareg?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by suspension (11.3%).
Does the 2008 Touareg get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 30-60k band to 24.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,882 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.