2013 Peugeot 508 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Peugeot 508 passed 78.2% of its 19,050 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.6 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.9%) and suspension (8.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 1,059 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.6% in the 0-30k band and 25.6% in the 150k+ band, a 14.0-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 2,082 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.9% | 1,694 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.8% | 1,287 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.7% | 1,087 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 666 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 443 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,059 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 953 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 939 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 603 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 582 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 511 |
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 | 28.7% | 5,459 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.1% | 4,391 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.1% | 3,450 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 2,547 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.7% | 1,464 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 1,423 |
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 | 147 | 11.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,841 | 16.8% |
| 60-90k | 4,869 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 5,492 | 22.1% |
| 120-150k | 3,738 | 24.1% |
| 150k+ | 2,963 | 25.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 18,937 | 21.8% |
| Hybrid | 69 | 24.6% |
| Petrol | 34 | 17.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,120 | 19.9% |
| 2022 | 3,937 | 19.9% |
| 2023 | 3,935 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 3,685 | 23.3% |
| 2025 | 3,373 | 23.4% |
What to check before buying a 2013 508
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.9% 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.
- Tyres (6.8% 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
How many 2013 Peugeot 508s pass their MOT?
78.2% of the 19,050 2013 Peugeot 508 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Peugeot 508?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.9% of tests, followed by suspension (8.9%).
Does the 2013 508 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.6% in the 0-30k band to 25.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,050 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.