2020 Peugeot 208 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 44,644 MOT tests, the 2020 Peugeot 208 recorded an 88.7% pass rate. That is 2.4 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 8.9%. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (6.4%) and tyres (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, linkage ball joint dust cover and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 3,467 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.7% once past 90-120k — 2.6× the risk.
Split by fuel, electric examples fail 4.5pp more often than petrol ones (14.8% vs 10.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.4% in 2021 to 13.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 6.4% | 2,863 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.3% | 1,934 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.6% | 1,157 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.3% | 1,003 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 610 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 107 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 3,467 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 711 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 609 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 589 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 588 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 413 |
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% | 10,246 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.5% | 6,901 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.8% | 1,696 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 1,573 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.1% | 1,393 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.2% | 555 |
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 | 29,157 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 14,010 | 15.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,372 | 18.7% |
| 90-120k | 93 | 23.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 33,626 | 10.3% |
| Electric | 9,884 | 14.8% |
| Diesel | 1,134 | 13.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 39 | 15.4% |
| 2022 | 405 | 3.0% |
| 2023 | 14,240 | 8.0% |
| 2024 | 14,777 | 12.3% |
| 2025 | 15,183 | 13.7% |
What to check before buying a 2020 208
On a 2020 208, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (6.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (4.3% 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.
- Suspension (2.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2020 Peugeot 208s pass their MOT?
88.7% of the 44,644 2020 Peugeot 208 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Peugeot 208?
Visibility, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by tyres (4.3%).
Does the 2020 208 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.1% in the 0-30k band to 23.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 44,644 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.