Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 Peugeot 208?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2012 Peugeot 208?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2012 Peugeot 208?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2012 Peugeot 208 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

40% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2012 Peugeot 208 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 16,291 vehicles, the 2012 Peugeot 208 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 77.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Peugeot 208?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Peugeot 208 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (59.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (52.1% of vehicles), Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (42.7% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2012 Peugeot 208?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Peugeot 208 (2012)

16,291 real MOT outcomes analysed • 77.8% first-time pass rate

2012 Peugeot 208

CarHunch analysed 16,291 real MOT records for the 2012 Peugeot 208. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2012 Peugeot 208 passes its MOT at 77.8%, which sits slightly below the UK average of 80%, and this is genuinely concerning: 40.2% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above what you'd consider acceptable. Both petrol and diesel variants perform identically at 77.8%, so fuel type won't help you pick a safer example.

At an average mileage of 56,166 for a 12-year-old car, these 208s are running reasonably typical miles, but the real issue emerges in the failure data—averaging 3.16 failures per MOT and 17.7 advisories suggests systematic wear issues rather than isolated problems. Before buying any 2012 208, get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically examines the suspension, steering, and brake components, since the high advisory count points to wear in those areas.

The 2012 Peugeot 208 has a decent first-time pass rate (77.8%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

77.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

40.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.16

Over 13.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

51k

Middle half: 39k–63k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 17.7 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 16,291 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 16,291 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 59.6%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 42.7%

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 31%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier

Exhaust & emissions 28.7%

Rear Exhaust mounting defective · Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits

Suspension & steering 21.6%

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 16,291 Peugeot 208 cars.

Before you buy a 2012 Peugeot 208

Based on MOT data from 16,291 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 40.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (64%)	10,421	77.8%	3.18
Diesel (36%)	5,869	77.9%	3.13

Colour Breakdown

Based on 189,356 Peugeot 208 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Grey 21%

39,768

White 20.6%

39,002

Black 19.8%

37,504

Blue 15%

28,395

Silver 11.7%

22,120

Red 6.6%

12,535

Pink 2.6%

5,012

Orange 2.2%

4,084

Purple 0.4%

739

Brown 0%

Bronze 0%

Gold 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 Peugeot 208 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

50,596

typical

38,544

low mileage

62,760

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Peugeot 208 vehicles fall between 38,544 and 62,760 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 38,544 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 38,544–62,760 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Peugeot 208s sit.

⚠ Over 84,726 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Peugeot 208 — Still on the Road

Most 2012 Peugeot 208s are still being driven.

Strong survival — 12,688 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 81% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

13.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.16

Avg failures per vehicle

17.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Peugeot 208: All 208 years → Which year to buy? →

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or browse all models: Peugeot →

Compare with another model

See how the 2012 Peugeot 208 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing