2018 Peugeot 208 (first used 2018) MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 73.1% of Peugeot 208s first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. Across 45,851 208 first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, tyres and body, chassis and structure.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Peugeot 208s first used in 2018 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.
Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026
How the 2018 Peugeot 208 MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, 208s first used in 2018 against all cars first used in 2018 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the 208 figure was 7.8 points lower.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2018 208 | All cars first used 2018 | 208 first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 91.3% | 87.6% | 15,546 |
| 2022 | 87.3% | 86.3% | 15,369 |
| 2023 | 81.8% | 84.2% | 15,361 |
| 2024 | 76.2% | 82.5% | 15,278 |
| 2025 | 73.1% | 80.9% | 15,212 |
Common 2018 Peugeot 208 MOT failures
Share of the 10,515 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
Most common failure items
| DVSA failure item | Share of failed first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 19.1% | 2,004 |
| Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 15.7% | 1,648 |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | 14.7% | 1,550 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | 6.9% | 726 |
| Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm | 6.7% | 702 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
Enter the car's registration to run the check.
Free · opens our free car check — no sign-in needed.
What to check on a 2018 Peugeot 208 before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
- Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
- Body and underside. Worth looking underneath with a torch at the sills, floor and mountings for corrosion, and at the rubber boots on the drive shafts for splits.
Common 2018 Peugeot 208 MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2018 208s, as a share of all 45,851 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | 15.7% | 7,193 |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 11.6% | 5,314 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 10.4% | 4,756 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 5.7% | 2,601 |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively | 5.0% | 2,271 |
Questions about the 2018 Peugeot 208 MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2018 Peugeot 208?
In 2025, 73.1% of 208s first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2018 208 most often fail its MOT on?
Lamps and electrical equipment (in 43.8% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), tyres (28.5%) and body, chassis and structure (23.1%). The single most common item was “Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps” (19.1%).
How often does a 2018 Peugeot 208 fail its MOT?
In 2025, 26.9% of first tests on 208s first used in 2018 did not pass first time: 19.7% failed, and a further 7.2% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 10,515 of 45,851 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2018 Peugeot 208 MOT advisories?
“Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (on 15.7% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (11.6%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (10.4%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (5.7%) and “Brake discs: worn, but not excessively” (5.0%).
Is a 2018 Peugeot 208 reliable?
An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 91.3% in 2021 to 73.1% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2018
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2018 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2018 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2018 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2018 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2018 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2018 208?
The numbers above cover every 208 first used in 2018 and tested in Great Britain. Our free check shows the actual MOT history, mileage record and tax status of the one you are looking at.
Enter the car's registration to run the check.
Free · no sign-in needed.