Used car guide

2008 Ford Galaxy: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Ford Galaxys, from 2,822 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,822MOT tests in 2025
54%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
8,400typical miles a year
4.8×the usual rate for suspension arm

What stands out

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

  • Suspension arm4.8× usual
    Ford Galaxy
    17.8% All 2008 cars
    3.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5%, against 0.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Sidelights2× usual
    Ford Galaxy
    14.8% All 2008 cars
    7.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.6%, against 6.5% 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.

  • Brake pads1.8× usual
    Ford Galaxy
    15.3% All 2008 cars
    8.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 2.1% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Exhaust system1.7× usual
    Ford Galaxy
    14.9% All 2008 cars
    9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 2.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Link ball joint covers2.5× usual
    Ford Galaxy
    8.7% All 2008 cars
    3.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 1.9% 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.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.2% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars. Drive shaft (CV) joints: 2.8% here, against 7.2% of all 2008 cars.

By area

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

  • Suspension
    62% 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
    43% 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
    41% 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.

  • Brakes
    34% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    18% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    16% 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.

Looking at a Ford Galaxy?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20221,229Tyres 26%
20211,422Tyres 27%
20201,673Tyres 27%
20192,587Tyres 27%
20183,498Tyres 29%
20175,198Tyres 31%
20164,685Tyres 33%
20152,397Tyres 36%
20144,129Lights and electrics 39%
20133,709Suspension 45%
20124,173Suspension 51%
20114,042Suspension 52%
20103,809Suspension 54%
20093,320Suspension 56%
20072,570Suspension 65%
20061,250Suspension 63%
2005982Suspension 64%
2004579Suspension 65%

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