Peugeot 208 common faults, MOT red flags & buyer's guide
Mk1 (2012–2019) & Mk2 (2019–) inc. e-208 · Supermini
Stylish and cheap to buy — check the 1.2 PureTech carefully.
Peugeot 208 common faults
Each fault below is drawn from real owner reports and UK garage patterns for this generation — not generic used-car advice.
1.2 PureTech wet timing belt
criticalThe 1.2 PureTech uses a wet belt that sheds into the sump — same design principle as Ford's EcoBoost, similar consequences. Stellantis has extended warranties on some.
Check for: Ask if the belt has been changed (should be by 6 years / 60–75k miles). Check oil quality.
Typical cost: £700–£1,100 belt; £3,000+ if engine damaged
AdBlue system (BlueHDi diesel)
moderateAdBlue sensor and injector faults cause 'no start in X miles' warnings.
Check for: Any AdBlue warning message.
Typical cost: £400–£900
MOT history red flags
If any of these appear on the last two MOTs, negotiate hard or walk away.
- Any advisory relating to 'oil leak'
- Emissions failure on BlueHDi
Sharp questions to ask the seller
- PureTech: wet belt replaced?
- AdBlue system working with no warnings?
Got a specific Peugeot 208 in mind?
Paste the reg and we'll pull its full MOT history, cross-check against these faults, and tell you: buy, negotiate or walk away.