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MOT results · tests in 2025 · Great Britain

Peugeot 208 reliability: what the MOT shows

218,876 208s had an MOT in 2025. 70.4% passed first time, against 77.1% for other cars of the same age and mileage. Most of the gap comes from cars registered from 2012 to 2021, which fail on body and structure 3.7 times as often as comparable cars.

70.4%passed first time
−6.7points against cars of the same age and mileage
3.7×as many body and structure failures as comparable cars
Report card

Peugeot 208 MOT results by registration year

Each dot compares how often 208s of that year failed on one area of the test with cars of the same age and mileage.

Much betterBetterAbout the sameWorseMuch worse
YearPassed first timeAgainst same age and mileageMOTsSuspensionSteeringBrakesTyresLights & electricsVisibilityBody & structureEmissions & leaks
201258.2%−6.313,328
201359.6%−7.230,988
201462.4%−7.827,803
201568.3%−5.226,781
201670.3%−6.225,402
201770.6%−9.217,420
201873.1%−9.415,212
201977.5%−7.716,988
202081.0%−6.213,261
202182.6%−5.714,482
202287.5%−2.217,203

Much worse: failed on that area at least 1.5 times as often. Worse: 1.15 to 1.5 times. Better: up to 0.87 times. Much better: two-thirds as often or less. Gaps under half a percentage point count as about the same. Registration year is the year the car was first used.

Peugeot 208 years to avoid, going by the MOT

Well behind2012 to 2021−5.2 to −9.4 ptsMost common failures: joints (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) in 2012, 2013 and 2017; catalyst emissions (Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits) in 2014; headlamp (not working on dipped beam) in 2015 and 2016; registration plate lamp(s) (inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps) in 2018 and 2019; wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) in 2020 and 2021. 201,665 MOTs.
Behind2022−2.2 ptsMost common failure: wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively). 17,203 MOTs.

Well behind: 5 or more points below cars of the same age and mileage. Behind: 1.5 to 5 points below. Level: within 1.5 points. Ahead: 1.5 or more points above.

What fails

Peugeot 208 common faults at the MOT

6.9% of 208 MOTs failed on body and structure, against 1.9% for cars of the same age and mileage, and 6.3% on emissions and leaks, against 2.0%.

Most common failures

Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.0%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.9%
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam3.1%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.1%
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps2.9%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.7%
Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits2.4%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.4%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.1%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.9%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.9%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.7%
Stop lamp: not working1.6%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.3%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.6%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.6%
208Same age and mileage

Fails more often than other cars

Catalyst emissions: hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits10.6×0.36% of 208 MOTs (782) against 0.03% for cars of the same age and mileage
Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits9.7×1.19% of 208 MOTs (2,599) against 0.12% for cars of the same age and mileage
Exhaust system: system insecure8.9×1.41% of 208 MOTs (3,080) against 0.16% for cars of the same age and mileage
Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits8.4×0.63% of 208 MOTs (1,385) against 0.07% for cars of the same age and mileage
Catalyst emissions: hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits8.0×0.20% of 208 MOTs (446) against 0.03% for cars of the same age and mileage
Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits6.8×2.40% of 208 MOTs (5,256) against 0.35% for cars of the same age and mileage
Mileage

Behind at every mileage

208s pass less often than cars of the same age and mileage at every mileage, by 3.1 to 10.2 points. The gap is widest at 120k+ miles.

First-time MOT pass rate by mileage: Peugeot 208 against cars of the same age and mileage0%25%50%75%100%8689UNDER 30K−3.1 pts738030–60K−6.2 pts617060–90K−8.6 pts546590–120K−10.2 pts5363120K+−10.2 pts
208, first-time pass rateCars of the same age and mileage

Petrol, diesel or hybrid 208

Diesels passed 63.0% first time, 6.5 points below comparable cars; petrols passed 71.4%, 6.5 points below comparable cars. Diesels had a median of 82,349 miles at the test, against 48,933 for petrols. Electrics are mostly newer cars (median 23,220 miles), so compare them with care.

FuelMOTsPassed first timeSame age and mileageGap (pts)Median miles
Petrol170,34971.4%77.9%−6.548,933
Diesel36,68263.0%69.5%−6.582,349
Electric11,84279.6%88.8%−9.223,220
Against rivals

208 against other small hatchbacks

Cars registered 2014 to 2021, each against cars of the same age and mileage. The 208 ranks 13 of 17.

ModelMOTsPassed first timeSame age and mileageGap (pts)
1. Honda Jazz136,22787.4%82.0%+5.4
2. MINI Cooper339,52785.3%80.8%+4.5
3. Toyota Yaris215,96482.4%80.7%+1.6
4. Hyundai i2077,31979.6%78.7%+0.9
5. Mazda 260,28480.6%79.8%+0.9
6. Suzuki Swift77,43880.6%80.1%+0.5
7. Audi A1162,41178.5%78.7%−0.2
8. Skoda Fabia118,92477.9%79.3%−1.3
9. VW Polo329,62176.0%79.1%−3.1
10. Ford Fiesta693,78873.2%78.2%−4.9
11. Citroen C395,14373.8%80.1%−6.2
12. Seat Ibiza113,18571.2%77.6%−6.4
13. Peugeot 208157,34971.7%78.8%−7.1
14. Nissan Micra81,54373.4%81.0%−7.6
15. Vauxhall Corsa477,34870.1%78.7%−8.6
16. Dacia Sandero97,35567.1%79.5%−12.4
17. Renault Clio148,25663.9%78.1%−14.2

Check these before you buy a used 208

What testers most often noted as advisories on 208s in 2025: wear that passed but was close to failing. Figures in brackets are for cars of the same age and mileage.

Questions about 208 reliability

Is the Peugeot 208 reliable?

At the MOT, 70.4% of 218,876 208 MOTs in 2025 passed first time, against 77.1% for cars of the same age and mileage. 2012 to 2021: well behind (−5.2 to −9.4 points). 2022: behind (−2.2 points).

Which Peugeot 208 years should I avoid?

Going by 2025 MOT results, 2012 to 2021 and 2022. Those cars passed first time −5.2 to −9.4 and −2.2 points against comparable cars.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 208?

Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt: 4.0% of 208 MOTs, against 0.9% for cars of the same age and mileage.

Is a diesel or petrol 208 more reliable?

Petrol 208s passed 71.4% first time and diesels 63.0%. Against cars of the same age and mileage, petrols were 6.5 points below and diesels 6.5 points below.

Is the 208 more reliable than the Ford Fiesta?

For cars registered 2014 to 2021, the Ford Fiesta passed 73.2% first time, −4.9 points against comparable cars. The 208 passed 71.7%, −7.1 points.

How we measure

Data. Every car MOT in Great Britain in 2025 (31,475,521 first tests on cars first used 2005 to 2022), from DVSA's anonymised MOT test data. Retests are left out.

Passed first time. A car passed if its first test that year ended in a pass. Cars that failed and were fixed within the hour count as fails, as DVSA counts them.

Same age and mileage. We group every car by the year it was first used and its mileage (under 30k, 30–60k, 60–90k, 90–120k, over 120k). The comparison figure is what those groups scored, weighted to match the 208's mix of ages and mileages.

Model. Every car DVSA records as a Peugeot 208: 45 recorded model names, from "208" to trims such as "208 ALLURE PREMIUM PURETECH SS".

The full method, including how each report-card dot and year group is decided.