Used car guide

2008 Vauxhall Corsa: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Vauxhall Corsas, from 35,816 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

35,816MOT tests in 2025
54%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
5,300typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What stands out

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

  • Engine oil leaks2.2× usual
    Vauxhall Corsa
    27.3% All 2008 cars
    12.5%
    Rough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Shock absorbers1.8× usual
    Vauxhall Corsa
    14.1% All 2008 cars
    8%
    Rough price £150–£400

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Front strut mounts and bushes6.4× usual
    Vauxhall Corsa
    5.8% All 2008 cars
    0.9%
    Rough price £120–£400

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

  • Individual direction indicators1.8× usual
    Vauxhall Corsa
    5.6% All 2008 cars
    3.1%
    Rough price £10–£80

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

  • Engine warning light1.5× usual
    Vauxhall Corsa
    4% All 2008 cars
    2.7%
    Rough price £10–£80

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

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.5% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars. Rust around suspension or steering mountings: 0.6% here, against 4.1% of all 2008 cars.

By area

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

  • Suspension
    50% 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
    39% 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
    36% 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
    28% 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.

  • Brakes
    25% 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
    13% 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.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
201941,997Tyres 30%
201852,878Tyres 34%
201751,943Suspension 37%
201675,251Suspension 41%
201586,737Suspension 43%
201472,135Suspension 45%
201369,323Suspension 43%
201268,236Suspension 44%
201153,793Suspension 45%
201046,086Suspension 45%
200939,748Suspension 47%

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