Peugeot 508 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 14 model years and 108,738 tests, the Peugeot 508 passes its MOT 80.8% of the time. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 18.3%, so the 508 sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
Best and worst 508 years
Ranked across 508 years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Build year matters more than the headline suggests: 2018 cars pass 88.3% of the time while 2011 cars manage 77.8%, a 10.6-point spread.
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.5%) and suspension (6.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and coil spring — tread depth alone was recorded 5,100 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.0% in the 0-30k band and 24.4% in the 150k+ band, a 14.4-point spread — more than double.
The hybrid cars hold up better: 13.2% fail against 19.7% for diesel, a 6.5-point gap across 102,571 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every 508 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 18,356 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 24,679 | 78.0% | 22.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 19,050 | 78.2% | 21.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 8,949 | 80.7% | 19.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 6,510 | 83.1% | 16.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 5,637 | 83.8% | 16.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 2,683 | 86.3% | 13.7% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 2,253 | 88.3% | 11.7% | Tyres |
| 2019 | 11,403 | 86.3% | 13.7% | Visibility |
| 2020 | 5,653 | 86.2% | 13.8% | Visibility |
| 2021 | 2,856 | 86.6% | 13.4% | Visibility |
| 2022 | 639 | 88.9% | 11.1% | Visibility |
| 2023 | 54 | 98.2% | 1.8% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 9,283 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.5% | 7,028 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.4% | 6,945 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.0% | 5,445 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 4,272 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 2,416 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 1,936 |
| 8 | Steering | 0.7% | 718 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 5,100 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 4,143 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 3,774 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 3,212 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 2,794 |
| 6 | Wipers | 2,558 |
| 7 | Washers | 2,404 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 2,041 |
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 | 27.3% | 29,673 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.3% | 24,285 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.5% | 15,728 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 11,433 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.2% | 7,881 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 6,717 |
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 | 8,861 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 20,848 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 24,059 | 18.1% |
| 90-120k | 24,584 | 21.6% |
| 120-150k | 16,823 | 23.3% |
| 150k+ | 13,547 | 24.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 99,325 | 19.7% |
| Petrol | 6,015 | 13.3% |
| Hybrid | 3,246 | 13.2% |
| Electric | 92 | 30.4% |
| Other | 60 | 20.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,420 | 18.4% |
| 2022 | 21,721 | 18.2% |
| 2023 | 22,848 | 19.9% |
| 2024 | 22,831 | 19.5% |
| 2025 | 21,918 | 19.7% |
What to check before buying a Peugeot 508
- Lighting & signalling (8.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.5% 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.
- Tyres (6.4% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Peugeot 508?
80.8% of the 108,738 Peugeot 508 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 19.2% fail rate, across model years 2010–2023.
What does the Peugeot 508 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.5% of tests, then suspension (6.5%).
Which 508 years are best and worst for MOT results?
2018 has the best pass rate at 88.3% and 2011 the weakest at 77.8%, from 2,253 and 18,356 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect 508 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 10.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 24.4% for 150k+, a 14.4-point difference.
Is the hybrid or diesel 508 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the hybrid fails 13.2% of the time against 19.7% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 108,738 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.