Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Dodge Journey?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2008 Dodge Journey?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2008 Dodge Journey?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2008 Dodge Journey vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

37% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2008 Dodge Journey reliable?

Based on MOT data from 150 vehicles, the 2008 Dodge Journey has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Dodge Journey?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Dodge Journey are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (63.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (52.9% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (49.4% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2008 Dodge Journey?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Dodge Journey (2008)

150 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.8% first-time pass rate

2008 Dodge Journey

CarHunch analysed 150 real MOT records for the 2008 Dodge Journey. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2008 Dodge Journey is notably less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of 75.8% against the national benchmark of 80%, and a concerning 36.7% of vehicles showing dangerous defects at some point—a red flag for buyer safety. The diesel version (which accounts for nearly all examples) performs marginally worse at 74.2%, suggesting these engines need particular scrutiny.

At 68,500 miles average, these cars have been driven moderately for their age, yet they're racking up 3.31 failures and 18.7 advisories per test—well above what you'd expect for vehicles in this condition. Before purchase, get a full pre-buy inspection focusing on the diesel engine bay and braking system, as the failure pattern and dangerous defect rate point to systemic issues rather than isolated wear items.

We have limited data for the 2008 Dodge Journey — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

75.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

36.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.31

Over 12 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

68k

Middle half: 52k–87k

For context

These stats describe 150 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 150 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 63.9%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake efficiency below requirements · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 52.9%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 32.9%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · Oil leak, but not excessive · …

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 150 Dodge Journey cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Dodge Journey

Based on MOT data from 150 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 36.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (86%)	129	74.2%	3.59

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Dodge Journey vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

67,897

typical

51,922

low mileage

86,648

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Dodge Journey vehicles fall between 51,922 and 86,648 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 51,922 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 51,922–86,648 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Dodge Journeys sit.

⚠ Over 116,974 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Dodge Journey — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 15% of 2008 Dodge Journeys are still active.

Numbers are declining — 18 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (15% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.31

Avg failures per vehicle

18.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Dodge Journey: All Journey years → Which year to buy? →

2009 2010

Or browse all models: Dodge →

Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Dodge Journey stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing