Large family car · 2010–2021 cars
Peugeot 508 reliability
The Peugeot 508 fails 28.2% of first MOT tests, 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 58,845 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Peugeot 508 before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 28.2%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 4% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 58,845
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 10,600
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Peugeot 508 ages
Each point is the share of Peugeot 508s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Peugeot 508 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 18.1% | 12.3% |
| 4 | 16.2% | 14.1% |
| 5 | 15.3% | 16.4% |
| 6 | 22.3% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 24% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 27.1% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 30.6% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 33.7% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 35.4% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 35.1% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 33.2% | 39.5% |
By year
The best and worst Peugeot 508 years
2018 cars come out best and 2020 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 659 | 13.1% | 7% fewer fails | 35,668 |
| 2020 508 | 3,256 | 17.8% | 21% more fails | 39,535 |
| 2019 508 | 6,983 | 17.8% | 20% more fails | 38,146 |
| 2018 508 | 1,702 | 11.3% | 26% fewer fails | 32,540 |
| 2017 508 | 1,494 | 19.5% | 1% fewer fails | 58,201 |
| 2016 508 | 3,162 | 24.3% | 6% more fails | 68,977 |
| 2015 508 | 3,655 | 23.7% | 10% fewer fails | 82,319 |
| 2014 508 | 4,911 | 27.9% | 6% fewer fails | 88,574 |
| 2013 508 | 10,180 | 33.4% | 0% fewer fails | 104,429 |
| 2012 508 | 13,145 | 34.1% | 7% fewer fails | 113,711 |
| 2011 508 | 9,690 | 34% | 12% fewer fails | 116,059 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Peugeot 508
Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics10.4%11% below avg
- Suspension7.8%16% below avg
- Tyres7.5%8% above avg
- Brakes6.1%9% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors4.6%2% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure2.9%4% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks2.1%28% below avg
- Steering0.8%60% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags0.5%43% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Coil spring fractured or broken 3.43% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 2
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 3.32% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 3
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 2.48% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 4
Registration plate lamp not working 2.16% of tests
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
- 5
CV joint boot split or insecure 1.78% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 6
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.66% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 7
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 1.64% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 8
Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.54% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Peugeot 508's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit16.97%
- Brake disc pitted or scored9.72%
- Brake pads wearing thin9.55%
- Linkage ball joint slight play4.53%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive4.38%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking4.31%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Peugeot 508
- 1
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 2
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 3
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 4
Registration plate lamp not working
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Peugeot 508 covers about 10,600 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Diesel89.8%
- Petrol5.4%
- Hybrid4.4%
- Other0.3%
- Electric0.1%
Most common colours
Grey, Blue, Black, White, Silver
Average engine size: 1.8 litres.
Compare
How the Peugeot 508 compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen CC | 25.1% | 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Kia Optima | 19.8% | 9% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Hyundai i40 | 26.6% | 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Peugeot 508 | 28.2% | 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Peugeot 407 | 46.1% | 6% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Citroën C5 | 28.5% | 6% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Renault Laguna | 45.8% | 10% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every large family car ranked in the large family car reliability index, or all Peugeot models.
Questions
Peugeot 508 questions, answered
Is the Peugeot 508 reliable?
On MOT results, the Peugeot 508 is about average: it fails 28.2% of first MOT tests, 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 18 of 29 large family car models in our index.
What fails most on a Peugeot 508 MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Peugeot 508 are coil spring fractured or broken (3.43% of tests), tyre tread below 1.6mm (3.32% of tests), brake pads worn below 1.5mm (2.48% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 10.4% of its tests.
Which Peugeot 508 year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2018 cars do best (26% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2020 cars do worst (21% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Peugeot 508 do a year?
A typical Peugeot 508 covers about 10,600 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Peugeot 508 before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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