Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Honda Legend?

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 Honda Legend?

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 Honda Legend?

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 Honda Legend vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

34% 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 Honda Legend reliable?

Based on MOT data from 154 vehicles, the 2008 Honda Legend has a first-time MOT pass rate of 84.3%, 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 Honda Legend?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Honda Legend are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (70.7% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (39.1% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (38.9% 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 Honda Legend?

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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Honda Legend (2008)

154 real MOT outcomes analysed • 84.3% first-time pass rate

2008 Honda Legend

CarHunch analysed 154 real MOT records for the 2008 Honda Legend. 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 Honda Legend passes its first MOT attempt at 84.3%, which is above the UK average of 80%, suggesting reasonable baseline reliability—though the concerning part is that nearly one in three of these cars (33.8%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a red flag for structural or safety issues. All 151 analysed examples are petrol-powered, so fuel type isn't a factor here.

At just under 70,000 miles on average for a 16-year-old car, these Legends show relatively modest mileage, yet they're still racking up 2.57 failures and 17.1 advisories per test, pointing to age-related wear rather than abuse. If you're considering one, budget for regular maintenance to address the steady stream of minor issues, and get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks for suspension, structural damage, or brake problems—the dangerous defect rate makes this non-negotiable.

We have limited data for the 2008 Honda Legend — 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

84.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

33.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.57

Over 15 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

67k

Middle half: 51k–85k

For context

These stats describe 154 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 154 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 70.7%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Tyre wear 39.1%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

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

Other issues 35.2%

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

Suspension & steering 23.5%

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play · Offside Rear Coil spring corroded · Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

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 154 Honda Legend cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Honda Legend

Based on MOT data from 154 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 33.8% 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
Petrol (98%)	151	84.1%	2.6

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Honda Legend 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.

66,544

typical

51,385

low mileage

84,711

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Honda Legend vehicles fall between 51,385 and 84,711 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 51,385 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.

✓ 51,385–84,711 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Honda Legends sit.

⚠ Over 114,359 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Honda Legend — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 61% of 2008 Honda Legends are still active.

87 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 61% of the peak remain.

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

2.57

Avg failures per vehicle

17.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Legend: All Legend years → Which year to buy? →

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Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Honda Legend stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing