Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 Peugeot 508?

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 508?

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 508?

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 508 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

43% 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 508 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 5,705 vehicles, the 2012 Peugeot 508 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 79.8%, 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 508?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Peugeot 508 are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (54% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (48.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (46.4% 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 508?

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.

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Peugeot 508 (2012)

5,705 real MOT outcomes analysed • 79.8% first-time pass rate

2012 Peugeot 508

CarHunch analysed 5,705 real MOT records for the 2012 Peugeot 508. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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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 508 hits the UK average with a 79.8% first-time pass rate, but here's the concern: 43.2% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above what you'd want to see. Both diesel and electric diesel variants perform almost identically, so fuel type isn't a meaningful factor in reliability here.

At nearly 93,000 miles on average, these are genuinely high-mileage cars, yet they're still racking up 2.56 failures and 15.6 advisories per test—suggesting wear-and-tear issues are mounting fast. Before buying, budget for an independent pre-purchase inspection focusing on suspension and brake components, since the advisory volume hints at cumulative mechanical wear rather than isolated problems.

The 2012 Peugeot 508 has a decent first-time pass rate (79.8%), 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

79.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

43.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.56

Over 11.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

89k

Middle half: 70k–112k

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 15.6 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 5,705 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 5,705 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 54%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear 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.

Tyre wear 48.9%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

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

Other issues 39.3%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Suspension & steering 33.5%

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play · Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play

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 5,705 Peugeot 508 cars.

Before you buy a 2012 Peugeot 508

Based on MOT data from 5,705 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 43.2% 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
Diesel (95%)	5,428	79.8%	2.57
Electric Diesel (3%)	181	80.4%	2.5

Colour Breakdown

Based on 23,592 Peugeot 508 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Grey 24.1%

5,694

Blue 20.3%

4,785

Black 19.8%

4,682

Silver 16.1%

3,794

White 15.5%

3,647

Red 2.6%

604

Brown 0.9%

220

Bronze 0.7%

166

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 Peugeot 508 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.

89,396

typical

69,692

low mileage

112,189

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Peugeot 508 vehicles fall between 69,692 and 112,189 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 69,692 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.

✓ 69,692–112,189 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Peugeot 508s sit.

⚠ Over 151,455 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 508 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 56% of 2012 Peugeot 508s are still active.

3,075 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 56% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* 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

11.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.56

Avg failures per vehicle

15.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Peugeot 508: All 508 years → Which year to buy? →

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See how the 2012 Peugeot 508 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing