Reliability report
Peugeot 208 reliability and common faults
Based on 358,234 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
25.9%
fail rate · average 22.6%
much worse than average
174,404 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
45.0%
with defects · average 41.8%
worse than average
180,225 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
62.1%
first-time pass · average 72.2%
much worse than average
3,605 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Peugeot 208
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Exhaust and emissionsconfirmed in 2 countries
Body and structure
Lights and electricsconfirmed in 2 countries
Visibility
Tyres
Seat belts and airbags
Brakes
Wheels
Suspension
Steering
Plates and identification
Most common test failures
- 1Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 2Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 3Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 4Tyre insufficient tread
- 5Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 6Tyre damaged
- 7Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility
- 8Low beam / high beam doesn't work (properly)
- 9Exhaust system not gas-tight / unsafe exhaust gas discharge
- 10Exhaust system poorly mounted
- 11Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 12Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 11.5% avg 9.9% | 31.5% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 19.5% avg 15.3% | 43.3% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 26.1% avg 22.9% | 47.7% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 33.3% avg 30.3% | 53.4% avg 55.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | 208 | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 71.4% | 86.7% | 171 |
| 2020 | 72.7% | 78.6% | 110 |
| 2019 | 75.2% | 83.2% | 238 |
| 2018 | 66.5% | 79.5% | 221 |
| 2017 | 67.2% | 76.6% | 512 |
| 2016 | 67.9% | 72.8% | 474 |
| 2015 | 61.4% | 71.1% | 471 |
| 2014 | 53.7% | 68.0% | 326 |
| 2013 | 55.6% | 65.9% | 541 |
| 2012 | 52.3% | 63.7% | 524 |
Peugeot 208 – FAQs
How reliable is the Peugeot 208?+
In the UK the Peugeot 208 fails 25.9% of MOT tests, against an average of 22.6% for cars of the same age – much worse than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 45.0% of APK inspections (average there 41.8%) – worse than average. In Lithuania 62.1% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 72.2%) – much worse than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Peugeot 208?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: exhaust and emissions, body and structure, lights and electrics.
What should I check when buying a used Peugeot 208?+
The most common inspection failures: Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Tyre insufficient tread; Low beam incorrectly adjusted. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Peugeot models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: © M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, Wikimedia Commons (licence).