2021 Peugeot 208 S/S — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 387 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Peugeot 208 S/S, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, tyres and brakes. Its pass rate of 89.7% was below the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 5.9% | 23 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.9% | 15 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.1% | 8 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.1% | 8 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 4 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 23 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 8 |
| 3 | Washers | 6 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joints | 4 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 3 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 3 |
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 | 20.2% | 78 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.9% | 73 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.2% | 20 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.7% | 18 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.1% | 16 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 14 |
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 | 156 | 9.6% |
| 30-60k | 139 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 79 | 11.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 192 | 11.5% |
| 2025 | 186 | 9.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 208 S/S
Before buying a 2021 Peugeot 208 S/S, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 5.9% of tests for this year.
- Visibility (5.9% 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 (3.9% 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 (2.1% 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 208 S/Ss pass their MOT?
89.7% of the 387 2021 Peugeot 208 S/S MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Peugeot 208 S/S?
Visibility, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by tyres (3.9%).
Does the 2021 208 S/S get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 0-30k band to 11.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 387 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.