If you are considering buying a used Peugeot 208, there are several major reliability issues worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 6 known faults for this model, 5 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Generation 1 of 16 known faults · 14 owner reports · 4 good notes
Peugeot 208 Mk1 (2012 to 2019) problems
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
Wet timing belt degradation leading to oil pickup blockage, oil starvation, and brake vacuum pump failure
Rough guide
£800-1500
Typical symptoms
low oil pressure warning light
engine management light
hard brake pedal (loss of servo assistance)
engine stalling or seizing
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.2 PureTech
Typical mileage:
40000-65000 miles
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Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
AdBlue tank integrated pump failure due to crystallization or PCB contamination, requiring full tank replacement
Rough guide
£800-1200
Typical symptoms
AdBlue/UREA warning light
engine management light
countdown indicating 'Engine Will Not Restart in X miles'
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.5 & 1.6 BlueHDi
Typical mileage:
40000-80000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
Premature stretching and snapping of the 7mm camshaft timing chain, destroying the engine top-end
Rough guide
£1500-2500
Typical symptoms
loud ticking or rattling from top of engine
sudden loss of power and engine stop
non-start
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.5 BlueHDi (DV5)
Typical mileage:
50000-90000 miles
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Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
1.6 THP (Prince) timing chain stretch and hydraulic tensioner failure causing 'death rattle' and timing jump
Rough guide
£800-1500
Typical symptoms
loud metallic 'death rattle' on cold start
engine management light (cam timing codes)
limp mode
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.6 THP (Petrol)
Typical mileage:
40000-80000 miles
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Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
Premature engine failure, often linked to excessive oil consumption, low oil pressure warnings, or internal engine component issues (e.g., metal filings). This can lead to the engine being outside expected tolerances or complete engine seizure. Honest John notes a software update campaign for older Puretech 130s.
Rough guide
£3000-5000
Typical symptoms
Low oil pressure warning light illuminates
Engine warning light illuminates, sometimes with 'STOP' message
Rapid oil level drop with no visible leaks
Engine becomes noisy or fails completely
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.2 PureTech (EB2) petrol
Typical mileage:
18000-76500 miles
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ElectricalMedium severity📝 Editorial
The touchscreen infotainment system can fail or freeze, rendering navigation, radio, and other functions inoperable. Dealers have reportedly struggled to fix these issues.
Rough guide
£500-1000
Typical symptoms
Touchscreen freezes or becomes unresponsive
Satnav not working
Screen goes blank
Inability to control infotainment functions
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All variants with touchscreen infotainment
Typical mileage:
30000-60000 miles
1 more owner report backs this up
June 2017The touchscreen infotainment system in a 2013 Peugeot 208 failed, with the car no longer covered by warranty.
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What owners report on the Mk1
14 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Engine · July 2021A 2015 Peugeot 208 1.6 BlueHDI suffered a diesel runaway at just under 50,000 miles, destroying the engine and turbo, requiring replacement.
Engine · January 2020A 2016 Peugeot 208 1.2 Puretech engine became noisy at 52,000 miles, with dashboard warning lights appearing; inlet valves were cleaned.
Engine · January 2020A 2013 Peugeot 208 1.2 Puretech experienced engine failure due to metal filings at 76,500 miles, with Peugeot replacing the engine under goodwill.
Gearbox and clutch · August 2019The clutch on a Peugeot 208 ETG failed at 18,000 miles, leading to a repair bill of £1700.
General · June 2019A 2015 Peugeot 208 1.2 Puretech experienced multiple issues including engine management lights, problems with brakes, discs, air conditioning, and dampers.
Engine · June 2019A 2012 Peugeot 208 1.2 Puretech engine failed at 55,800 miles after repeated low oil pressure warnings and significant oil consumption.
Engine · January 2019A Peugeot 208 with 72,000 miles frequently illuminated the oil warning light, indicating rapid oil level drops despite no visible leaks.
Fuel system · October 2018A 2013 Peugeot 208 1.6 THP with 42,367 miles suffered repeated failures of the low pressure fuel pump, high pressure injection pump, and an injector.
Gearbox and clutch · October 2017A 2014 Peugeot 208 1.2 Puretech Active exhibited significant juddering from the drivetrain when moving away in first gear.
Interior · July 2016The folding mechanism of the driver's seat in a 2012 Peugeot 208 3-door failed at 32,000 miles.
Electrics · December 2015A new Peugeot 208 GT automatic experienced issues with a faulty fuel gauge and satellite navigation system that dealers could not fix.
Engine · August 2014A 2013 Peugeot 208 1.2 Puretech required a new engine under warranty at 18,000 miles after a routine check revealed it was outside expected tolerances.
Electrics · July 2013A 2013 Peugeot 208 1.6 HDI Feline EGC experienced repeated ESP light illumination, a frozen screen, and gearbox issues at 2,500 miles.
Electrics · December 2012A 'gong' sound indicated that the car battery was failing to hold sufficient charge and needed to be replaced.
What owners like about the Mk1
4 notes
The car achieved a Euro NCAP 5 Star Crash Safety Rating, with strong scores for adult and child occupant protection.
This Peugeot 208 model offers an enjoyable and engaging driving experience on various roads.
The car's interior is noted for its high-quality construction and solid build, providing a pleasant cabin.
The Peugeot 208 provides a comfortable ride, complemented by well-designed and supportive seating for occupants.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 15 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Peugeot 208 advert and we check it in seconds.
Peugeot 208 service intervals: cambelt, chain and gearbox oil
An overdue cambelt is the most expensive thing a seller can fail to mention on a used 208. These are the figures UK specialists work to.
Timing beltWet belt
1.2 PURETECH, 1.2 VTI
62,000 miles or 6 years, whichever comes first
Wet belt. PSA officially revised the interval from 10 years/100,000 miles down to 6 years/62,000 miles due to widespread premature degradation.
Timing belt (cambelt)Wet belt
1.2 PURETECH, 1.2 VTI
62,000 miles or 6 years, whichever comes first
PSA officially revised the interval from 10 years/100,000 miles down to 6 years/62,000 miles due to widespread premature degradation which blocks the oil strainer.
Timing belt (cambelt)Wet belt
1.5 BLUEHDI, DV5
60,000 miles or 5 years, whichever comes first
Although originally quoted longer intervals, specialists strongly recommend a 5-year/60,000-mile interval for the timing belt on the 1.5 BlueHDi due to its sensitivity and potential for failure. Note: this engine also has a camshaft timing chain that can snap.
Timing belt (cambelt)Belt
1.6 HDI, 1.6 E-HDI, DV6
87,000 miles or 10 years, whichever comes first
Generally 10 years or 87,000 to 112,500 miles. Always replace the water pump with the belt.
Timing chainChain
1.6 THP
No fixed replacement interval
Chain driven. Notorious for stretching and tensioner failure. Listen for a loud 'death rattle' on cold start. Often replaced by specialists at 40k-80k miles.
Always confirm against the vehicle handbook. Intervals vary by engine, and several manufacturers revised theirs after failures in service.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: September 2026
Peugeot 208 buying questions
Is a used Peugeot 208 reliable?
The Peugeot 208 has 6 known faults in our database, 5 of them rated high severity. The most serious are engine (wet timing belt degradation leading to oil pickup blockage, oil starvation) and engine (adBlue tank integrated pump failure due to crystallization or PCB contamination). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
What are the most common Peugeot 208 problems?
Three stand out. Engine: wet timing belt degradation leading to oil pickup blockage, oil starvation (typically 40000 to 65000 miles). Engine: adBlue tank integrated pump failure due to crystallization or PCB contamination (typically 40000 to 80000 miles). Engine: premature stretching and snapping of the 7mm camshaft timing chain, destroying the engine top-end (typically 50000 to 90000 miles). The full list above is grouped by generation, with typical mileage and a rough repair cost for each.
Which Peugeot 208 years should I avoid?
No Peugeot 208 year is a write-off, but the Mk1 (2012 to 2019) carries the most serious faults: engine. Year matters less than whether the specific car has had the known fixes, so check the history for them.
What should I check when viewing a used Peugeot 208?
Ask the seller about the engine faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for low oil pressure warning light, adBlue/UREA warning light and loud ticking or rattling from top of engine. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against all 6 known faults before you travel. Check a Peugeot 208 advert →
What is the real MPG of a Peugeot 208?
Owners report 53.0 mpg on average across the Peugeot 208 engines with data, about 76% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 565 owner submissions. Peugeot 208 Real MPG by engine →
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Peugeot 208 owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.
Knowing what a Peugeot 208 goes wrong with is half of it. The rest is reading the advert and checking the car's history before you hand any money over.