Used car guide

2008 Volkswagen Jetta diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Volkswagen Jetta first registered in 2008 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 4,061 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,061MOTs of 2008 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
60%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
8,200typical miles a year
2.7×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta diesel than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.7× usual
    Volkswagen Jetta
    17.5% All 2008 cars
    6.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.4%, against 3% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.8× usual
    Volkswagen Jetta
    19.1% All 2008 cars
    10.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 2.3% 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.

  • Rust in key structural areas4.3× usual
    Volkswagen Jetta
    3.4% All 2008 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 0.5% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

  • Suspension arm1.9× usual
    Volkswagen Jetta
    5.4% All 2008 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, 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.

  • Side repeaters2.4× usual
    Volkswagen Jetta
    3.4% All 2008 cars
    1.4%

    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, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 0.7% here, against 9.3% of all 2008 cars. Exhaust system: 2.3% here, against 8.6% of all 2008 cars.

Common 2008 Volkswagen Jetta diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2008 Volkswagen Jetta diesel 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.

  • 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.

  • Brakes
    30% 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
    29% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Driveshafts and joints
    18% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the rust in key structural areas? (Flagged at MOT 4.3× as often on the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volkswagen Jetta?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Volkswagen Jetta compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2018–Too few tests
20171,046Tyres 27%
20162,272Tyres 28%
20153,337Tyres 29%
20142,923Suspension 34%
20133,127Suspension 37%
20123,487Suspension 41%
20112,697Suspension 43%
20101,968Suspension 42%
20093,145Suspension 46%
20076,177Suspension 50%
20064,371Suspension 48%
2005–Too few tests
1992–Too few tests
1991173Brakes 35%
1990158Suspension 25%
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–Too few tests
1982–Too few tests
1981–Too few tests
1980–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Volkswagen Jetta cars first registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score