2014 Peugeot 208 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Peugeot 208 passed 79.6% of its 178,758 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (19.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.7% of tests against 7.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, exhaust system and joints — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 10,972 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.0% once past 150k — 2.9× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 20.2% of the time against 20.9% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 19,192 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.1% | 12,654 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 11,899 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.6% | 8,182 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.5% | 8,073 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.5% | 8,075 |
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 | 10,972 |
| 2 | Exhaust system | 7,857 |
| 3 | Joints | 6,769 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 5,665 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 5,392 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 5,339 |
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 | 27.4% | 49,002 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.6% | 35,002 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.6% | 27,795 |
| 4 | Suspension | 14.2% | 25,318 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 18,373 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.4% | 11,377 |
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 | 17,339 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 75,543 | 17.3% |
| 60-90k | 62,428 | 24.4% |
| 90-120k | 18,752 | 27.6% |
| 120-150k | 3,756 | 28.1% |
| 150k+ | 916 | 28.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 131,482 | 20.2% |
| Diesel | 47,276 | 20.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 35,101 | 16.4% |
| 2022 | 35,937 | 18.3% |
| 2023 | 36,332 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 36,145 | 22.7% |
| 2025 | 35,243 | 23.8% |
What to check before buying a 2014 208
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.1% 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 (6.7% 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 2014 Peugeot 208s pass their MOT?
79.6% of the 178,758 2014 Peugeot 208 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Peugeot 208?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.7% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (7.1%).
Does the 2014 208 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 28.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 178,758 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.