2020 Peugeot 208 (first used 2020) MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 81.0% of Peugeot 208s first used in 2020 passed their MOT first time, against 86.0% for all cars first used in 2020. Across 39,764 208 first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen), tyres and suspension.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Peugeot 208s first used in 2020 (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

Passed first time, 2025
81.0%
of 13,261 first tests; all cars first used in 2020: 86.0%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
39,764
first tests, 2023–2025; 13,261 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
49.0%
of 13,261 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
30,500
middle half: 21,000–41,500 miles; all cars first used in 2020: 37,500

How the 2020 Peugeot 208 MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, 208s first used in 2020 against all cars first used in 2020 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the 208 figure was 5.0 points lower.

2020 208All cars first used in 2020
80%90%100%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2020, test year 2021: 84.7%All cars first used in 2020, test year 2022: 90.2%All cars first used in 2020, test year 2023: 87.7%All cars first used in 2020, test year 2024: 86.9%All cars first used in 2020, test year 2025: 86%2020 208, test year 2023: 88.5%2020 208, test year 2024: 81.5%2020 208, test year 2025: 81%86%81%
View this chart as a table
Test year2020 208All cars first used 2020208 first tests
2021fewer than 500 tests84.7%33
2022fewer than 500 tests90.2%393
202388.5%87.7%13,179
202481.5%86.9%13,324
202581.0%86.0%13,261

Common 2020 Peugeot 208 MOT failures

Share of the 6,506 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%.

Visibility44.4%
Tyres29.8%
Suspension17.7%
Brakes15.4%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment9.3%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively40.8%2,652
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords12.2%792
Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt8.5%550
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.5%485
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm7.4%483

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2020 Peugeot 208 before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Wipers and windscreen. Worth checking that the wipers clear the screen cleanly, that the washers work, and that there are no chips or cracks in the driver’s view.
  2. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  3. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.

Common 2020 Peugeot 208 MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2020 208s, as a share of all 39,764 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge11.9%4,745
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened10.4%4,140
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing5.0%1,993
Brake pads: wearing thin4.7%1,876
Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords4.6%1,826

Questions about the 2020 Peugeot 208 MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2020 Peugeot 208?

In 2025, 81.0% of 208s first used in 2020 passed their MOT first time, against 86.0% for all cars first used in 2020. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2020 208 most often fail its MOT on?

Visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (in 44.4% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), tyres (29.8%) and suspension (17.7%). The single most common item was “Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively” (40.8%).

How often does a 2020 Peugeot 208 fail its MOT?

In 2025, 19.0% of first tests on 208s first used in 2020 did not pass first time: 15.7% failed, and a further 3.3% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 6,506 of 39,764 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2020 Peugeot 208 MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 11.9% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (10.4%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (5.0%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (4.7%) and “Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords” (4.6%).

Is a 2020 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 88.5% in 2023 to 81.0% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2020

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2020 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2020 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2020 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2020 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2020 MINI Hatch MOT statistics

How the 2020 Peugeot 208 MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2020 208” means a Peugeot 208 whose date of first use falls in 2020 (69, 20 and 70 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2020, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.