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

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 Odyssey?

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 Odyssey?

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.

Is the 2008 Honda Odyssey reliable?

Based on MOT data from 136 vehicles, the 2008 Honda Odyssey has a first-time MOT pass rate of 87.7%, 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 Odyssey?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Honda Odyssey are: Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (18.2% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (15.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (14.9% 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 Odyssey?

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 Odyssey (2008)

136 real MOT outcomes analysed • 87.7% first-time pass rate

2008 Honda Odyssey

CarHunch analysed 136 real MOT records for the 2008 Honda Odyssey. 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 Odyssey is a solid performer, with an 87.6% first-time pass rate that sits comfortably 7.6 percentage points above the UK average—and just 13.2% of vehicles have ever recorded a dangerous defect, which is reassuring. This isn't a car prone to serious structural or safety failures.

These Odysseys are running at typical mileage for their age (median 103,679 miles), and they're averaging fewer than one failure per test, though advisories rack up at 4.1 per vehicle, suggesting minor wear accumulates over time. If you're considering one, budget for routine maintenance items rather than major repairs, and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on those advisory-level issues—suspension, brakes, and exhaust components typically appear—to avoid inherited niggles.

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

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

87.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

13.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.81

Over 4.8 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

104k

Middle half: 66k–132k

For context

These stats describe 136 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.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 136 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 18.2%

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

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

Tyre wear 15.3%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear 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 11.6%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Suspension & steering 9.9%

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · …

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 136 Honda Odyssey cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Honda Odyssey

Based on MOT data from 136 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 13.2% 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 (99%)	134	87.5%	0.82

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Honda Odyssey 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.

103,679

typical

66,491

low mileage

132,448

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Honda Odyssey vehicles fall between 66,491 and 132,448 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 66,491 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.

✓ 66,491–132,448 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Honda Odysseys sit.

⚠ Over 178,804 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 Odyssey — Still on the Road

Almost all 2008 Honda Odysseys are still on the road.

Strong survival — 57 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 93% of the 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

4.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.81

Avg failures per vehicle

4.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1995 1996 2004 2005 2006 2014

Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

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

A solid choice — agree?