2013 Peugeot 208 — MOT failures & pass rate
209,575 MOT tests on the 2013 Peugeot 208 are in this dataset, and 77.3% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (21.1% fail rate), the 2013 208 comes out 1.7pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.9%) and body, structure & corrosion (9.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, joints and exhaust system — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 15,824 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.2% once past 150k — 3.0× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 22.3% of the time against 22.9% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 22,823 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 19,264 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 17,231 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.0% | 10,497 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.8% | 9,972 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.5% | 9,358 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 15,824 |
| 2 | Joints | 12,840 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 9,816 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 7,714 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 6,889 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 6,304 |
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 | 28.6% | 59,983 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.6% | 43,281 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.8% | 35,106 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.4% | 34,476 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 21,762 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.6% | 13,830 |
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 | 10,962 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 72,195 | 18.8% |
| 60-90k | 84,485 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 32,707 | 27.8% |
| 120-150k | 7,306 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,883 | 29.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 147,976 | 22.9% |
| Diesel | 61,599 | 22.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 41,890 | 19.0% |
| 2022 | 42,858 | 21.1% |
| 2023 | 42,752 | 23.0% |
| 2024 | 42,117 | 25.1% |
| 2025 | 39,958 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 2013 208
On a 2013 208, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.2% 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+.
- Emissions & environmental (8.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2013 Peugeot 208s pass their MOT?
77.3% of the 209,575 2013 Peugeot 208 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Peugeot 208?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.9% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (9.2%).
Does the 2013 208 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 29.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 209,575 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.