London Taxis Int Tx4 (2008)

1,582 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.6% first-time pass rate

2008 London Taxis Int Tx4

CarHunch analysed 1,582 real MOT records for the 2008 London Taxis Int Tx4. 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 Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2008 TX4 passes its MOT first time in just 72.6% of cases, significantly below the UK average of 80%, and nearly half of these taxis have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a serious red flag for any buyer. The diesel engines are consistent with the overall pass rate at 72.6%, so fuel type isn't a differentiating factor here.

With a median mileage of 192,778 miles for a 16-year-old vehicle, these are genuinely hard-worked cabs, which explains why owners face an average of six failures and nearly 20 advisories per test. Before buying one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focusing on structural integrity and brake systems, given the high dangerous defect rate and above-average failure count.

The 2008 London Taxis Int Tx4 has a below-average first-time pass rate (72.6% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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
72.6%
UK average ~80%
Below average
Dangerous (ever)
47.9%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
6
Over 20.9 tests on record
High
Typical mileage
193k
Middle half: 145k–236k
For context
⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 19.8 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.
🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 1,582 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.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,582 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 93.9%
Oil leak · Oil leak, but not excessive
Brake wear 56.2%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Parking brake efficiency below requirements · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Suspension & steering 42.8%
Steering box has a slight oil leak · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · …
Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.
Tyre wear 33.2%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front 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.

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 1,582 London Taxis Int Tx4 cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2008 London Taxis Int Tx4

Based on MOT data from 1,582 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 47.9% 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 ClickMechanic
  • 📄 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 carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (99%) 1,566 72.6% 5.99

Colour Breakdown

Based on 13,749 London Taxis Int Tx4 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 70.4%
9,682
Grey 7.9%
1,092
Silver 6.5%
896
Blue 4.9%
674
White 2.8%
386
Multi-colour 2.4%
328
Red 2.1%
282
Green 1.1%
158
Purple 0.6%
84
Pink 0.5%
69
Yellow 0.4%
58
Orange 0.3%
40

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 London Taxis Int Tx4 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.

192,778
typical
145,266
low mileage
236,237
high mileage

Half of all 2008 London Taxis Int Tx4 vehicles fall between 145,266 and 236,237 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 145,266 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.
145,266–236,237 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 London Taxis Int Tx4s sit.
Over 318,919 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 London Taxis Int Tx4 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 9% of 2008 London Taxis Int Tx4s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 140 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (9% of peak).

1,472 140 2014 2025

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

20.9
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
6
Avg failures per vehicle
19.8
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — London Taxis Int Tx4: All Tx4 years → Which year to buy? →
2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Or browse all models: London Taxis Int →

Compare with another model

See how the 2008 London Taxis Int Tx4 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on