2021 Peugeot 208 — MOT failures & pass rate
32,311 MOT tests on the 2021 Peugeot 208 are in this dataset, and 89.9% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (7.8% fail rate), the 2021 208 comes out 2.3pp worse. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (6.3%) 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, tread depth and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 2,454 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.3% versus 8.2%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 9.2% fail against 12.2% for electric, a 3.0-point gap across 31,653 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 6.3% | 2,040 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.3% | 1,374 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.9% | 603 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.5% | 491 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 393 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 61 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 2,454 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 467 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 411 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 270 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 254 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 230 |
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 | 21.6% | 6,975 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.8% | 4,150 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.1% | 1,316 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 1,234 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.7% | 873 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.2% | 395 |
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 | 21,443 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 9,835 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 925 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 98 | 16.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 22,091 | 9.2% |
| Electric | 9,562 | 12.2% |
| Diesel | 658 | 9.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 44 | 6.8% |
| 2023 | 701 | 5.0% |
| 2024 | 15,391 | 8.5% |
| 2025 | 16,166 | 11.8% |
What to check before buying a 2021 208
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 6.3% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (6.3% 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 (1.9% 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 2021 Peugeot 208s pass their MOT?
89.9% of the 32,311 2021 Peugeot 208 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Peugeot 208?
Visibility, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by tyres (4.3%).
Does the 2021 208 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 16.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 32,311 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.