2012 Peugeot 3008 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Peugeot 3008 passed 74.9% of its 70,339 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.0 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 22.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.4% of all tests — 5.8 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, position lamp and tread depth — stop lamp alone was recorded 4,860 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.3% versus 12.3%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 25.1% of the time against 25.6% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 11,506 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.6% | 7,458 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 5,650 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.3% | 4,416 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.1% | 2,912 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.8% | 2,647 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 4,860 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 4,130 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 3,838 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 3,570 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 3,459 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 2,856 |
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 | 29.9% | 21,027 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.5% | 18,602 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.7% | 16,692 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 7,554 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.5% | 6,651 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.1% | 4,262 |
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 | 537 | 12.3% |
| 30-60k | 10,355 | 18.6% |
| 60-90k | 27,313 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 22,184 | 27.9% |
| 120-150k | 7,698 | 29.5% |
| 150k+ | 2,247 | 30.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 64,269 | 25.1% |
| Petrol | 5,299 | 25.6% |
| Electric | 326 | 27.0% |
| Hybrid | 304 | 27.0% |
| Other | 141 | 21.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,540 | 21.7% |
| 2022 | 14,673 | 23.8% |
| 2023 | 14,462 | 25.7% |
| 2024 | 13,860 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 12,804 | 27.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 3008
On a 2012 3008, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.6% 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.
- Brakes (8.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2012 Peugeot 3008s pass their MOT?
74.9% of the 70,339 2012 Peugeot 3008 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Peugeot 3008?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by suspension (10.6%).
Does the 2012 3008 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.3% in the 0-30k band to 30.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 70,339 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.