2018 Peugeot 208 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 85,684 MOT tests, the 2018 Peugeot 208 recorded an 88.7% pass rate. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (11.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.1%) and tyres (4.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are registration plate lamp(s), headlamp and joints — registration plate lamp(s) alone was recorded 3,447 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.2% versus 6.6%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 11.0% fail against 14.1% for diesel, a 3.1-point gap across 85,684 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 6,063 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.5% | 3,862 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.2% | 2,705 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.2% | 1,861 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.7% | 1,447 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 986 |
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) | 3,447 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 2,166 |
| 3 | Joints | 2,026 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,272 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,254 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 1,061 |
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 | 22.9% | 19,596 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.0% | 13,694 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 5,795 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.7% | 4,853 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 4,532 |
| 6 | Suspension | 4.8% | 4,075 |
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 | 42,225 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 35,030 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 7,052 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,097 | 21.9% |
| 120-150k | 209 | 19.6% |
| 150k+ | 64 | 17.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 77,839 | 11.0% |
| Diesel | 7,845 | 14.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,345 | 5.2% |
| 2022 | 16,598 | 7.7% |
| 2023 | 17,218 | 11.3% |
| 2024 | 17,559 | 15.0% |
| 2025 | 17,964 | 16.6% |
What to check before buying a 2018 208
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.5% 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 208s pass their MOT?
88.7% of the 85,684 2018 Peugeot 208 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Peugeot 208?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by tyres (4.5%).
Does the 2018 208 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 17.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 85,684 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.