2023 Peugeot 208 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 870 MOT tests, the 2023 Peugeot 208 recorded a 95.9% pass rate. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (5.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (1.6%) and tyres (1.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 15 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 8.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 14 |
| 2 | Tyres | 1.4% | 12 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.3% | 11 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.9% | 8 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 5 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 2 | Wipers | 9 |
| 3 | Washers | 5 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 5 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 4 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 4 |
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 | 8.2% | 71 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.8% | 33 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.7% | 15 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.4% | 12 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.1% | 10 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.8% | 7 |
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 | 673 | 3.6% |
| 30-60k | 190 | 6.3% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 722 | 3.7% |
| Electric | 135 | 5.9% |
What to check before buying a 2023 208
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 1.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (1.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (1.4% 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.
- Visibility (1.3% 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.
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 2023 Peugeot 208s pass their MOT?
95.9% of the 870 2023 Peugeot 208 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Peugeot 208?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 1.6% of tests, followed by tyres (1.4%).
Does the 2023 208 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.6% in the 0-30k band to 6.3% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 870 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.