Peugeot 208
From 263,086 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 208s fare better: 2021 models pass at 90.6% vs 69% for 2012.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and exhaust system leaking or insecure. The top issue, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, caused 8,488 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 8,488 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 7,442 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 6,010 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 5,194 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 5,168 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 5,161 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 4,285 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 4,123 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 3,655 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 3,124 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 33.5% of 208 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 23.9% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £118.
Fuel type matters
Electric versions pass at 78.5% while Diesel versions pass at 71.8%, a 7 percentage point gap.
Peugeot 208 on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 17,285 newly registered in the past year with 5,206 leaving, a net gain of 12,079. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 249,587 | 4,996 | +3,032 | -1,173 | +1,859 |
| 2025 Q2 | 247,840 | 4,884 | +3,021 | -931 | +2,090 |
| 2025 Q1 | 245,975 | 4,659 | +6,627 | -1,575 | +5,052 |
| 2024 Q4 | 241,559 | 4,023 | +4,605 | -1,527 | +3,078 |
| 2024 Q3 | 239,191 | 3,313 | +2,618 | -845 | +1,773 |
| 2024 Q2 | 237,548 | 3,183 | +3,033 | -332 | +2,701 |
| 2024 Q1 | 234,923 | 3,107 | +6,238 | -1,435 | +4,803 |
| 2023 Q4 | 230,514 | 2,713 | +3,766 | -526 | +3,240 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 208 Active | Petrol | 48,702 | 27% |
| 208 Allure | Diesel | 18,659 | 10% |
| 208 Allure Puretech S/S | Petrol | 13,387 | 8% |
| 208 Gt Puretech S/S | Petrol | 12,654 | 7% |
| 208 Tech Edition S/S | Petrol | 11,549 | 6% |
| 208 Gt Ev | Battery Electric | 7,373 | 4% |
| 208 Access Plus | Petrol | 6,972 | 4% |
| 208 Active Hdi | Diesel | 6,940 | 4% |
| 208 Style | Diesel | 6,658 | 4% |
| 208 Gt Mhev Auto | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 5,861 | 3% |
| 208 Allure Premium Puretech Ss | Petrol | 5,396 | 3% |
| 208 Gt Line S/S | Petrol | 4,785 | 3% |
| 208 Gt Puretech S/S Auto | Petrol | 4,538 | 3% |
| 208 Allure Premium + P-Tech Ss | Petrol | 4,422 | 2% |
| 208 Allure Premium | Petrol | 4,228 | 2% |
| 208 Allure E-Hdi | Diesel | 3,951 | 2% |
| 208 Allure Premium + Ptch Ss A | Petrol | 3,373 | 2% |
| 208 Gt Premium Ev | Battery Electric | 3,217 | 2% |
| 208 Signature Puretech S/S | Petrol | 2,718 | 2% |
| 208 Allure Hdi | Diesel | 2,665 | 1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 90.6% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2020 | 78.9% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2019 | 83.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2018 | 80.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
6 earlier years
| 2017 | 78.5% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2016 | 77.8% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2015 | 75.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, exhaust system leaking or insecure |
| 2014 | 72.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, exhaust system leaking or insecure |
| 2013 | 70.3% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2012 | 69% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all 208s tested had between 59,101 and 100,053 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 75,762 median miles, the 208 has 0.033 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Peugeot models
| Peugeot Partner | 69.9% |
| Peugeot 3008 | 76.5% |
| Peugeot 308 | 71.6% |
| Peugeot 207 | 63.1% |
| Peugeot Boxer | 74.7% |
Common questions
What is the Peugeot 208 MOT pass rate?
The Peugeot 208 has a 75.2% MOT pass rate based on 263,086 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Peugeot 208?
The most common MOT failure on the Peugeot 208 is a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, which caused 8,488 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Peugeot 208s are on UK roads?
There are 249,587 Peugeot 208s currently licensed on UK roads, with 4,996 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Peugeot 208 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Peugeot 208 is 75,762 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 59,101 and 100,053 miles.
Buying a used 208?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 75.2% pass rate and an average repair bill of £118 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 33.5% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.