2021 Peugeot 508 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,856 MOT tests, the 2021 Peugeot 508 recorded an 86.6% pass rate. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 10.4%. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (7.4%) and tyres (6.1%) 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 brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 230 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 508 fails 10.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.0% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.9 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 13.1% of the time against 13.8% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.5% of tests failed in 2023 against 12.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 7.4% | 211 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.1% | 173 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.2% | 91 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 44 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 19 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 230 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 119 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 90 |
| 4 | Washers | 53 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 24 |
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 | 22.8% | 650 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.2% | 491 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.4% | 153 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.8% | 108 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 34 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 17 |
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 | 879 | 10.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,499 | 14.9% |
| 60-90k | 403 | 14.1% |
| 90-120k | 67 | 9.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,221 | 13.8% |
| Diesel | 827 | 13.1% |
| Hybrid | 808 | 13.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 77 | 6.5% |
| 2024 | 1,390 | 14.2% |
| 2025 | 1,388 | 12.9% |
What to check before buying a 2021 508
On a 2021 508, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (7.4% 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 (6.1% 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.
- Brakes (3.2% 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 2021 Peugeot 508s pass their MOT?
86.6% of the 2,856 2021 Peugeot 508 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Peugeot 508?
Visibility, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by tyres (6.1%).
Does the 2021 508 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.8% in the 0-30k band to 9.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,856 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.