Used car guide

2008 Ford Fusion: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Ford Fusions, from 7,171 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

7,171MOT tests in 2025

58%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)

4,900typical miles a year

2.6×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Ford Fusions than on all cars registered in 2008.

Rigid brake pipes2.6× usual

Ford Fusion
24.7% All 2008 cars
9.6%

Failed outright at MOT: 4.6%, against 1.5% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.
Ball joint dust cover2.6× usual

Ford Fusion
12.3% All 2008 cars
4.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 2% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.
Brake lights2.2× usual

Ford Fusion
12.6% All 2008 cars
5.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 10.3%, against 4.6% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.
Rear fog light5.5× usual

Ford Fusion
5.5% All 2008 cars
1%

Failed outright at MOT: 5.4%, against 0.9% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.
Wheel bearings1.9× usual

Ford Fusion
5% All 2008 cars
2.6%

Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 1% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 1.5% here, against 11.3% of all 2008 cars. Headlights: 3.7% here, against 10.7% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Ford Fusion MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Brakes

40% of testsRough price £150–£350

At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
Suspension

39% of testsRough price £120–£400

At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
Lights and electrics

34% of testsRough price £10–£80

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
Tyres

33% of testsRough price £70–£150

At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
Oil and fluid leaks

12% of testsRough price £80–£600

At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.
Wipers, windscreen and mirrors

10% of testsRough price £15–£250

At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Ford Fusion?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2012	772	Lights and electrics 32%
2011	2,445	Lights and electrics 34%
2010	5,439	Brakes 38%
2009	7,860	Brakes 38%
2007	6,449	Brakes 42%
2006	5,757	Lights and electrics 48%
2005	3,866	Brakes 47%
2004	3,339	Suspension 47%
2003	2,978	Brakes 48%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Ford Fusions registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score