2018 Peugeot 2008 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 89,218 MOT tests, the 2018 Peugeot 2008 recorded an 88.9% pass rate. That is 1.2 percentage points worse than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 9.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.2% of tests against 3.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are registration plate lamp(s), joints and headlamp aim — registration plate lamp(s) alone was recorded 4,668 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.7% versus 6.1%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 10.7% fail against 13.3% for diesel, a 2.6-point gap across 89,218 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 7,301 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.4% | 3,005 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.2% | 2,862 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.8% | 2,500 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.7% | 1,480 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 956 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 4,668 |
| 2 | Joints | 2,400 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,000 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 1,846 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,626 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 1,488 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.3% | 20,784 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.6% | 20,116 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.1% | 7,255 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 6,967 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 4,780 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.2% | 2,830 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 39,794 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 40,530 | 14.0% |
| 60-90k | 7,962 | 19.8% |
| 90-120k | 817 | 23.6% |
| 120-150k | 89 | 24.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 76,505 | 10.7% |
| Diesel | 12,713 | 13.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,123 | 5.9% |
| 2022 | 17,392 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 17,823 | 11.0% |
| 2024 | 18,196 | 14.1% |
| 2025 | 18,684 | 16.1% |
What to check before buying a 2018 2008
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Body, structure & corrosion (3.2% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2018 Peugeot 2008s pass their MOT?
88.9% of the 89,218 2018 Peugeot 2008 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Peugeot 2008?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.2% of tests, followed by tyres (3.4%).
Does the 2018 2008 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 24.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 89,218 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.