Used car guide

2008 Vauxhall Astravan: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Vauxhall Astravans, from 678 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

678MOT tests in 2025
53%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
8,800typical miles a year
2.7×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Vauxhall Astravans than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.7× usual
    Vauxhall Astravan
    26.1% All 2008 cars
    9.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, 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.

  • Steering swivel joints8× usual
    Vauxhall Astravan
    9.6% All 2008 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.2% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Battery6.8× usual
    Vauxhall Astravan
    6.8% All 2008 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 0.2% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the car starts cleanly and there are no warning lights once running.

  • Rust around sub-frame mountings4.4× usual
    Vauxhall Astravan
    6.2% All 2008 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 0.3% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints2× usual
    Vauxhall Astravan
    8.3% All 2008 cars
    4.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 1.6% 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

Sub-frame: 3.5% here, against 7.8% of all 2008 cars.

By area

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

  • Suspension
    57% 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
    49% 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.

  • Tyres
    43% 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.

  • 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    22% 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
    15% 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 Vauxhall Astravan?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2011682Suspension 48%
2010620Suspension 48%
2007628Suspension 53%
20061,149Suspension 55%
20051,053Brakes 55%
2004638Brakes 55%

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