2015 Peugeot 208 — MOT failures & pass rate
163,842 MOT tests on the 2015 Peugeot 208 are in this dataset, and 83.2% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail at 17.6%, so the 2015 208 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 9.6% of all tests — 4.7 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, exhaust system and catalyst emissions — headlamp alone was recorded 5,858 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.6% versus 8.5%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.4pp more often than petrol ones (19.5% vs 16.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 15,759 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.0% | 8,111 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.8% | 7,847 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.0% | 6,548 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 6,415 |
| 6 | Brakes | 3.6% | 5,953 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 5,858 |
| 2 | Exhaust system | 5,741 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 5,426 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 5,212 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 3,914 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 3,763 |
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 | 26.8% | 43,894 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.1% | 31,304 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.8% | 22,611 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.5% | 20,428 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 14,377 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.0% | 9,871 |
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 | 24,291 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 78,175 | 14.9% |
| 60-90k | 46,884 | 21.5% |
| 90-120k | 11,686 | 25.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,238 | 26.6% |
| 150k+ | 557 | 24.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 128,531 | 16.1% |
| Diesel | 35,311 | 19.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 32,270 | 13.1% |
| 2022 | 32,764 | 15.0% |
| 2023 | 32,827 | 16.4% |
| 2024 | 33,209 | 19.2% |
| 2025 | 32,772 | 20.2% |
What to check before buying a 2015 208
On a 2015 208, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (5.0% 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+.
- Tyres (4.8% 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.
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 2015 Peugeot 208s pass their MOT?
83.2% of the 163,842 2015 Peugeot 208 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Peugeot 208?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.6% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (5.0%).
Does the 2015 208 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 24.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 163,842 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.