Used Peugeot 208 review and buying guide (2012 to present): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Peugeot 208 should you buy?

A Mk1 208 with the older 1.6 HDi diesel is the safer buy, because no serious known fault names that engine. The 1.2 VTi and PureTech petrol, the 1.5 and 1.6 BlueHDi diesels from 2014 and the 1.6 THP petrol each carry at least one. That doesn't let a 1.6 HDi off its checks, but it starts with less against it.

If it has to be a petrol, the 1.2 PureTech is the one to be careful with. Two serious known faults cover every 1.2 from 2012, the earlier VTi included: the wet belt breaks down and blocks the oil pickup at 33,000 to 65,000 miles, and heavy oil use and internal wear have ended in failed or replaced engines at 14,500 to 56,000 miles. An earlier registration isn't a way round it.

There's very little on record about the 208 sold from 2019, so judge a newer one on its engine. The diesel faults carry on past 2019: AdBlue pump failure covers 1.5 and 1.6 BlueHDi cars up to 2022, and the 1.5 BlueHDi's camshaft chain stretching and snapping covers 2017 to 2023. A plain 1.2 PureTech still has the wet belt, while the 48V hybrids badged Hybrid 100, 110, 136 or 145 swap it for a timing chain in oil.

Which Peugeot 208 engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 1.6 HDi diesel is the lesser risk, since no serious known fault names it. Its cambelt's due at 87,000 miles or 10 years, with a new water pump fitted at the same time, so ask for that receipt on any car near the mark. It isn't the later 1.6 BlueHDi, which carries the AdBlue fault below, and the one owner's report on a 1.6 HDi was mostly about its EGC automated gearbox.

The 1.2 PureTech petrol needs the most care. On 2012 to 2023 cars its wet belt, which runs in the engine oil, can break down and clog the oil pickup at 33,000 to 65,000 miles, starving the engine and killing the brake vacuum pump, which leaves you with a hard brake pedal. The belt's due at 62,000 miles or six years and should be inspected at every service. Separately, heavy oil use has ended in engines failing at 14,500 to 56,000 miles.

Both BlueHDi diesels share a known fault on 2014 to 2022 cars: the pump inside the AdBlue tank fails, sometimes before 30,000 miles, and the whole tank usually needs replacing, with a dashboard countdown to the engine refusing to restart. The 1.5 BlueHDi from 2017 adds a camshaft chain that stretches and snaps at 50,000 to 90,000 miles, wrecking the top of the engine. Its dry cambelt is due at 60,000 miles or five years.

The 1.6 THP petrol has a known fault too: its timing chain stretches and the hydraulic tensioner fails at 40,000 to 80,000 miles, giving a loud metallic rattle from cold and letting the timing jump. On gearboxes, one owner's automated ETG needed a new clutch at 18,000 miles and its owner paid £1,700 for the repair, and a 1.6 HDi's EGC stuck at 3,500 rpm rather than change up. That's two cars rather than a known fault, but a manual's the simpler buy.

What should you check when viewing a used Peugeot 208?

Pull the dipstick on any 1.2 PureTech first: an engine that's low on oil with nothing leaking underneath is showing the pattern behind its known engine failures. Ask how often it's needed topping up, and for the receipt if the wet belt's been changed or inspected. On the drive, a hard brake pedal, the low oil pressure light or a STOP message on the dash are all reasons to leave that car alone.

On a BlueHDi, watch for an AdBlue or engine management light and any countdown to a no-start, since the tank pump failing is a known fault. On a 1.5 BlueHDi, listen for ticking or rattling from high up on the engine, which is the camshaft chain stretching. Start a 1.6 THP from cold and listen for a metallic rattle. Ask for the cambelt receipt on a 1.5 BlueHDi past 60,000 miles, and on a 1.6 HDi past 87,000 miles.

Get proof the recall work was done: front wishbone mounting bolts that could break (recalled in 2014), a fuel injector rail that could leak and spray petrol under the bonnet (2016), a starter motor relay fault that could overheat the starter (2017) and a tailgate spoiler that could come loose (2017). There were also 2012 recalls for a bonnet catch and for air left in the brakes. Try every touchscreen menu, because screens freezing or going blank on 2013 to 2015 cars is a known fault.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

Is a used Peugeot 208 Mk1 (2012 to 2019) worth buying?

A Mk1 208 is worth buying with the 1.6 HDi diesel, and worth skipping as a 1.2 PureTech unless there's proof its oil and wet belt have been looked after. It rides comfortably and the seats hold you well, though the steering's over-assisted and vague through bends and the handling isn't sharp, so don't buy one expecting a driver's car.

The 1.2 PureTech draws most of the owner complaints. One 2013 car had its engine replaced under warranty at 18,000 miles after a routine check found it out of tolerance, another 2013 engine failed with metal filings inside, and a 2012 car kept losing oil with no leak until the dash called for immediate engine repair at 55,800 miles. A 2016 PureTech 82 turned noisy with warning lights at 52,000 miles, and its owner paid £200 for diagnostics before the inlet valves were cleaned.

The diesels and the THP haven't escaped. One owner's 2015 1.6 BlueHDi suffered a diesel runaway just short of 50,000 miles despite up to date servicing, ruining the engine and turbo, and a 2013 1.6 THP had both fuel pumps and an injector fail, then the same faults came back. Owners have also reported a driver's seat folding mechanism breaking on a 3-door at 32,000 miles, and a 1.2 that juddered pulling away in first gear.

What does a used Peugeot 208 cost to run?