Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter?

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 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter?

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 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter?

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 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

46% 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 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter reliable?

Based on MOT data from 267 vehicles, the 2008 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter has a first-time MOT pass rate of 74.1%, 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 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter are: Oil leak, but not excessive (40.7% of vehicles), Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (40.7% of vehicles), Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (35.7% 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 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter?

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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Mitsubishi Fuso Canter (2008)

267 real MOT outcomes analysed • 74.1% first-time pass rate

2008 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter

CarHunch analysed 267 real MOT records for the 2008 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter. 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

This 2008 Fuso Canter diesel has a first-time MOT pass rate of 74.1%, which falls 5.9 percentage points below the UK average of 80%—a meaningful gap that signals reliability concerns. More worryingly, 46.4% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is substantially higher than typical and should genuinely worry a buyer considering one for regular use.

These Canters have covered an average of 94,117 miles, which is reasonable for their age, but they're accumulating nearly 4 failures and over 21 advisories per test—indicating persistent mechanical wear issues rather than isolated problems. Before committing to purchase, have an independent heavy-vehicle specialist inspect the braking system, suspension, and steering components in detail, as these are the areas where dangerous defects cluster on this model.

We have limited data for the 2008 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter — 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

74.1%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

46.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.9

Over 13.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

87k

Middle half: 66k–114k

For context

These stats describe 267 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 267 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 40.7%

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

Other issues 40.7%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Suspension & steering 35.7%

Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush · Offside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush

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

Tyre wear 25.3%

Offside Rear Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · 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 267 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter

Based on MOT data from 267 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 46.4% 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 (100%)	266	74%	3.92

Colour Breakdown

Based on 3,294 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 84.8%

2,792

Green 3.4%

112

Black 2.4%

Silver 2.4%

Blue 2.3%

Red 2%

Grey 1.4%

Yellow 0.7%

Orange 0.3%

Maroon 0.2%

Purple 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter 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.

86,905

typical

65,910

low mileage

113,555

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter vehicles fall between 65,910 and 113,555 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 65,910 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.

✓ 65,910–113,555 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Mitsubishi Fuso Canters sit.

⚠ Over 153,299 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 33% of 2008 Mitsubishi Fuso Canters are still active.

Numbers are declining — 77 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (33% 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

13.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.9

Avg failures per vehicle

21.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mitsubishi Fuso Canter: All Canter years → Which year to buy? →

2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or browse all models: Mitsubishi Fuso →

Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on