2008 Toyota Corolla MOT pass rate: 74.9% (9,862 tests)

2008-registered Toyota Corollas passed 74.9% of 9,862 MOT tests in 2023–2025 — 9.7 points better than all UK cars registered in 2008 (65.1%). This is one of the strongest Corolla years in the age-adjusted MOT ranking, although the individual car still matters more.

74.9%Pass rate, 2008 cars

109.7Age-adjusted index (100 = average)

9,862Tests analysed

119,855 miMedian mileage at test

77.0% / 72.1%Petrol vs diesel pass rate

Is the 2008 Corolla getting worse?

Pass rate of 2008-registered cars across recent test years:

Test year	Pass rate
2023	75.7% +10.3 vs same-age
2024	74.6% +9.8 vs same-age
2025	74.1% +8.9 vs same-age

The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.

What fails on a 2008 Corolla

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	2,196	30.0%
2	Brakes	1,437	19.6%
3	Tyres	815	11.1%
4	Suspension	802	10.9%
5	Noise, emissions and leaks	595	8.1%
6	Visibility	581	7.9%

All Corolla years compared

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2001	6,018	71.1%	+4.5 pts	92,730
2002	10,929	69.7%	+4.0 pts	99,732
2003	16,348	66.7%	+1.7 pts	100,401
2004	21,791	66.9%	+2.6 pts	102,294
2005	33,632	70.7%	+6.2 pts	103,276
2006	37,509	72.7%	+8.3 pts	100,514
2007	13,644	73.7%	+8.6 pts	114,024
2008 (this page)	9,862	74.9%	+9.7 pts	119,855
2009	3,817	74.9%	+8.5 pts	111,750
2019	46,465	92.3%	+3.9 pts	45,441
2020	4,628	93.3%	+3.5 pts	45,396

Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Toyota Corolla years to avoid.

Buying a 2008 Corolla? Two checks first

Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

FAQs

Is a 2008 Toyota Corolla reliable?

2008-registered examples passed 74.9% of their MOT tests (9,862 tests, 2023–2025), +9.7 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 18 years old with a median 119,855 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.

What mileage is too high for a 2008 Corolla?

The median tested example shows 119,855 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.

Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2008 Corolla?

In this cohort petrols pass 77.0% of tests against 72.1% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.