Used car guide

2008 Toyota Avensis: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Toyota Avensiss, from 4,497 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,497MOT tests in 2025
57%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
7,100typical miles a year
4.7×the usual rate for suspension arm

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Toyota Avensiss than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Suspension arm4.7× usual
    Toyota Avensis
    17.5% All 2008 cars
    3.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, 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.

  • Side repeaters3.8× usual
    Toyota Avensis
    5.7% All 2008 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, 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, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Other suspension component2.9× usual
    Toyota Avensis
    3.5% All 2008 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£400 our estimate

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

  • Rear fog light2.5× usual
    Toyota Avensis
    2.5% All 2008 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, 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.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints2.3× usual
    Toyota Avensis
    2.3% All 2008 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0.2% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.8% here, against 11.3% of all 2008 cars. Engine oil leaks: 5.1% here, against 12.5% of all 2008 cars.

By area

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

  • Suspension
    46% 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.

  • Brakes
    38% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    37% 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
    32% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    11% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Rust and bodywork
    8% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Looking at a Toyota Avensis?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20181,138Tyres 28%
20172,423Tyres 25%
20163,484Tyres 27%
20153,062Tyres 29%
20142,903Suspension 33%
20132,993Suspension 35%
20124,509Suspension 38%
20114,129Suspension 42%
20105,053Suspension 46%
20094,696Suspension 50%
20074,215Suspension 49%
20063,746Suspension 47%
20052,887Suspension 49%
20042,084Suspension 45%
20031,569Suspension 40%
2002679Brakes 36%

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