2025 MOT results
Peugeot 208 common problems
The most common reason a Peugeot 208 fails its MOT is a split joint boot, on 13.4% of its 64,821 failed tests in 2025. Against other cars of the same age, 6 faults stand out, the widest gaps being: a exhaust system insecure at 4.8% of failures against 0.7% expected; emissions above the limit at 8.1% of failures against 1.5% expected; a split joint boot at 13.4% of failures against 3.4% expected.
- Tests in 2025 219,246 Cars aged three and over
- Failed first time 29.6% 64,821 tests
- Found a dangerous defect 6.0% Unsafe to drive away
- Ended with an advisory 51.2% A problem to watch, not a failure
What fails a Peugeot 208 MOT
Each bar is the share of failed Peugeot 208 tests with that defect. Where we can compare it with cars of the same registration years, the marker shows what an average car of those ages records (12 of the 12 items below).
Most common reasons for failure
A test can fail for more than one defect, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure | 13.4% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.6% |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 9.9% |
| Catalyst emissions: lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits Noise, emissions and leaks | 8.1% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 7.2% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.5% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 6.3% |
| Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 5.4% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension | 5.2% |
| Exhaust system: major leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 5.0% |
| Exhaust system insecure Body, chassis, structure | 4.8% |
| Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres | 4.7% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
-
Split joint boot
13.4% of failures 3.4% expected 3.9 times as often
A split rubber boot on a joint or driveshaft. The joint may still be sound, but dirt and water get in once the boot is open.
Turn the wheels to full lock and look behind them for greasy splits in the rubber concertina.
-
Headlamp out
10.6% of failures 4.6% expected 2.3 times as often
A headlamp out on dipped beam, which is the beam the test checks.
Both bulbs age at the same rate, so a pair usually goes within months of each other.
-
Number plate lamp out
9.9% of failures 2.9% expected 3.4 times as often
The lamp over the rear number plate not working, so the plate cannot be read at night.
Walk round the car with the lights on and the hazards going; these are the cheapest failures to avoid.
-
Emissions above the limit
8.1% of failures 1.5% expected 5.4 times as often
The exhaust gases are outside the limits for the car, which can be the catalytic converter, a sensor, or simply a poor state of tune.
A long run before the test helps a catalyst get hot; a persistent failure usually needs a diagnosis.
-
Tyre worn below the legal limit
7.2% of failures 9.0% expected somewhat less often
A tyre worn past the 1.6mm legal minimum across the middle three quarters of the tread.
A 20p coin in the main grooves: if the outer band of the coin is visible, the tyre is close to the limit.
-
Engine management light on
6.5% of failures 4.9% expected somewhat more often
The engine management light is on, or has been disconnected. Either fails the test.
A cheap code reader on the diagnostic socket will say what the car has stored before you pay for a test.
Which parts of the car fail
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment is the area that most often fails a Peugeot 208, on 38.3% of failed tests. The widest gap against cars of the same registration years is body, chassis, structure, on 23.2% against 7.5% expected.
Failure categories
DVSA's own sections of the test. The marker is what cars of the same registration years record.
| Defect category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 38.3% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 23.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 21.3% |
| Suspension | 20.5% |
| Tyres | 19.8% |
| Brakes | 15.6% |
| Visibility | 13.3% |
| Steering | 4.1% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What testers warn about
51.2% of Peugeot 208 tests ended with at least one advisory: a fault the tester found that did not fail the test. On Peugeot 208s, these are the items to ask about on a car you are viewing, because they are what the last tester expected to go next.
Most common advisories
Share of all tests, passes included.
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 16.8% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 11.8% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 11.2% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 8.2% |
| Exhaust system: mounting defective Body, chassis, structure | 6.4% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes | 4.7% |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes | 3.9% |
| Exhaust system: minor leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 3.9% |
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.7% |
| Service brake performance: binding but not excessively Brakes | 1.8% |
| Nail in tyre Non-component advisories | 1.7% |
| Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt Non-component advisories | 1.6% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What changes as a Peugeot 208 gets older
A 2022 Peugeot 208 failed 12.6% of its MOT tests in 2025; a 2012 one failed 41.8%. What fails changes as much as how often, and these are the two years themselves rather than an average across them.
2022 Peugeot 208 12.6% failed, from 17,032 tests
- Wiper blades that do not clear the screen 27.4%
- Cut tyre 19.4%
- Tyre worn below the legal limit 7.3%
- Headlamp aim set too high 7.1%
- Tyre worn through to the cords 5.7%
- Worn brake pads 4.8%
2012 Peugeot 208 41.8% failed, from 13,328 tests
- Split joint boot 24.4%
- Emissions above the limit 10.8%
- Engine management light on 10.3%
- Headlamp out 8.4%
- Tyre worn below the legal limit 8.3%
- Worn steering or suspension joint 7.6%
Shares are of each year's failed tests. Every MOT a particular car has had, with the defects and advisories written at each test, is on GOV.UK's MOT history service from the registration, free.
Peugeot 208 problems: common questions
What is the most common problem with a Peugeot 208?
Of the faults that fail an MOT, “Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” is the most common: it appears on 13.4% of failed Peugeot 208 tests. Across categories, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment is the area that most often fails one, on 38.3% of failed tests.
How often does a Peugeot 208 fail its MOT?
29.6% of Peugeot 208 tests in 2025 were not passed first time, from 219,246 tests of cars aged three and over. Allowing for the age and mileage of the cars tested, that gives it a UK Motoring Reliability Score of 39 out of 100, where 50 is as expected.
Does anything fail more often on a Peugeot 208 than on other cars?
Yes. “Exhaust system insecure” appears on 4.8% of its failures against 0.7% for cars of the same age, and “Catalyst emissions: lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits” appears on 8.1% of its failures against 1.5% for cars of the same age. Where an item is missing from the national figures for a year, we use the smallest share those figures show, so the comparison never overstates the difference.
Are these the same as breakdowns or known faults?
No. These are the items a tester recorded at the MOT, which covers condition and safety: lamps, brakes, tyres, suspension, corrosion and emissions. A gearbox that is unpleasant, an infotainment screen that has died, or a car that will not start on a cold morning are not part of the test, so they are not in these figures.
Where do the figures come from?
Every normal MOT test of a Peugeot 208 aged three and over in Great Britain in 2025, from DVSA's anonymised MOT results. Retests are excluded, and the same fault on more than one wheel counts once.
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT defects and advisories | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 219,246 MOT tests | 19 September 2026 |
- Shares for defects are of failed tests; shares for advisories are of all tests. A test can carry several defects, so shares add to more than 100%.
- The expected share is what an average car of the same registration years records, weighted by where this model’s failures fall. Where an item is outside the national figures for a year, the smallest share those figures show is used in its place, which is an upper bound, so the comparison never overstates a model’s problems. No expectation is published where less than 80% of the model’s failures can be compared.
- Great Britain only: DVSA does not run MOT testing in Northern Ireland. Cars under three years old are not tested.
- The descriptions of what each part does are general and the same on every model. Every figure comes from the MOT data.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.