MOT failure data · 2025

Peugeot 208 MOT problems

Across every Peugeot 208 that failed its 2025 MOT, the defect testers recorded most often was joints constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt, on 7.82% of failure items. The broadest problem area was lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment at 19.43%. These are recorded defects across the model, not a diagnosis of any one car.

Most common Peugeot 208 MOT failures

#	Recorded defect	Area	Share
1	Joints constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt	Body, chassis, structure	7.82%
2	Catalyst emissions lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits	Noise, emissions and leaks	4.67%
3	Tread depth tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	4.45%
4	Headlamp not working on dipped beam	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	3.96%
5	Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	3.9%
6	Ball joint ball joint excessively worn	Suspension	3.54%
7	Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	3.4%
8	Malfunction indicator lamp inoperative or indicates a malfunction	Noise, emissions and leaks	3.2%
9	Exhaust system has a major leak of exhaust gases	Body, chassis, structure	2.89%
10	Exhaust system system insecure	Body, chassis, structure	2.6%

Shares are of all recorded failure items for this model, so they sum to less than 100% — a single failed test often records several defects, and the long tail below the top 10 is not shown.

What this means if you are buying one

Use it as a viewing checklist. If you are looking at a Peugeot 208, these are the areas worth inspecting and worth asking about — and worth reading the car's own MOT history for, since a defect that keeps reappearing as an advisory is a better signal than any model-wide average.

The MOT record also has hard limits: it does not check the engine, clutch or gearbox, and it says nothing about outstanding finance, insurance write-off history, stolen markers or whether the mileage is genuine. Our used Peugeot 208 buying guide covers what to check beyond the MOT.

Checking a specific Peugeot 208?

Enter its registration for finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history.

Other Peugeot models

Peugeot 208 MOT FAQs

What does a Peugeot 208 most commonly fail its MOT on?

The single most recorded defect on Peugeot 208 cars failing their 2025 MOT was "joints constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt", appearing on 7.82% of failure items.

Does this mean my Peugeot 208 will fail?

No. This is what testers recorded across every Peugeot 208 that failed in 2025. It shows where this model tends to need attention, not the condition of any individual car. The Peugeot 208 passed 74.05% of its initial tests.

How do I see a specific Peugeot 208's MOT history?

Enter its registration on our free MOT history check to see that car's own test results, advisories and recorded mileages.

Defect counts from the DVSA MOT Anonymised test-item data for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, failure items only — advisories and minor defects excluded), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.