Peugeot 508 problems, reliability and years to avoid
If you are considering buying a used Peugeot 508, these are the common problems worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 4 known faults for this model, 2 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Is the Peugeot 508 reliable?
The Peugeot 508 has 4 known faults in our database, 2 of them rated high severity. The most serious are engine (the 1.6 diesel has failed badly on two 2011 508s at similar mileages) and engine (1.6 THP (Prince) timing chain stretch and hydraulic tensioner failure causing 'death). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
That is a count of the faults we hold, not a reliability score. Popular cars get written about more, and a newer generation has had less time to show its faults.
Which Peugeot 508 years should you avoid?
No year is a write-off on its own. What matters is which serious faults a given year and engine can have, and whether the car in front of you has had them fixed.
Years and engines with a serious known fault
2011 to 2014, 1.6 HDi and e-HDi diesel (DV6, before the 2014 BlueHDi): the 1.6 diesel has failed badly on two 2011 508s at similar mileages
2006 to 2018, 1.6 THP (Petrol): 1.6 THP (Prince) timing chain stretch and hydraulic tensioner failure causing
Each one is set out in full below, with the symptoms, the typical mileage and a rough repair cost.
Generation 1 of 14 known faults · 16 owner reports · 8 good notes
Peugeot 508 Mk1 (2011 to 2018) problems
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
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Fuel SystemMedium severity💬 6 owner reports, 2014 to 2021
Diesel injector failures on first-generation 1.6 HDi cars, sometimes one injector at a time and sometimes the whole set, reported from about 20,000 miles. One owner's car lost power with engine and ESP/ABS warnings before the injector was found. Owners report paying about 1,000 pounds for a single injector and 2,500 pounds for a set of four.
Rough guide
£1000-2500
Typical symptoms
Loss of power or limp mode
Engine warning light, sometimes with ESP/ABS warnings
Rough idle or misfire
Smoke or a strong diesel smell
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.6 HDi / e-HDi diesel (DV6)
Typical mileage:
20000-42000 miles
1 more owner report backs this up
November 2015A 2011 Peugeot 508 1.6 HDI experienced engine failure at 72,000 miles due to an electrical short in an injector, requiring a full service kit.
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity💬 2 owner reports, 2015 to 2016
The 1.6 diesel has failed badly on two 2011 508s at similar mileages: one at 72,000 miles after an electrical short in the number one injector, where the Peugeot dealer would not supply a single injector and said the car needed a full kit of four injectors, fuel pipework, new electronics and a software download, and an SW whose camshaft failed at 78,000 miles, with £5,000 quoted for a new engine (a common engine, so a used one is far cheaper). Peugeot refused goodwill on both.
Rough guide
£1500-5000
Typical symptoms
misfire or rough running on one cylinder
engine warning light or limp mode with injector codes
tapping or rattle from the top of the engine
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.6 HDi and e-HDi diesel (DV6, before the 2014 BlueHDi)
Typical mileage:
72000-78000 miles
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Transmission/ClutchMedium severity💬 2 owner reports, 2012 to 2016
The clutch and dual mass flywheel can fail early on the diesels: an 18-month-old 2.0 HDi needed a clutch or flywheel repair at 28,000 miles (Peugeot paid), and another diesel needed a new flywheel and clutch at three years and five months old, a £1,600 bill.
Rough guide
£1000-1600
Typical symptoms
rattle at idle that stops when the clutch is pressed
judder on take-up
clutch slipping or biting high
Affected vehicles
Engines:
Diesels (one report names the 2.0 HDi)
Typical mileage:
28000+ miles
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What owners report on the Mk1
16 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.
Electrics · October 2019A 508 HDI experienced a fuel pressure issue in 2016, then its RT6 audio and satnav unit failed at 50,000 miles, costing £1,800 to replace.
Electrics · June 2019The RT6 audio and satnav unit in a 2013 Peugeot 508 worked intermittently, sometimes ejecting a non-existent CD for hours, even with the ignition off.
Engine · February 2019A 2011 Peugeot 1.6 THP petrol engine felt lumpy and lacked power for the first mile or two when starting from cold at 60,000 miles.
Suspension and steering · December 2018A 2013 Peugeot 508 SW required new rear tyres every 4,000 miles, while the front tyres wore normally, despite suspension checks.
Gearbox and clutch · October 2018A 2012 Peugeot 508 RXH Hybrid4 needed a new clutch for its automated manual transmission at 68,000 miles.
Fuel system · September 2018A 2012 Peugeot 508 had a persistent oil leak, initially attributed to the sump, but later found to be from a leaking high-pressure fuel pump at 63,785 miles.
Gearbox and clutch · July 2018The EGC actuator failed on a 2011 Peugeot 508 1.6 diesel e-hdi semi-automatic transmission.
Suspension and steering · March 2017One rear damper failed on a Peugeot 508 RXE at 46,000 miles and was replaced under warranty.
Engine · October 2016A 2013 Peugeot 508 HDI developed an engine rattle and power loss at 16,000 miles, which a mechanic acknowledged.
Suspension and steering · August 2015The front suspension arms of a 2011 Peugeot 508 2.2 HDI GT needed re-bushing at 30,000 miles, causing severe inner tyre wear.
Suspension and steering · February 2014A Peugeot 508 e-HDi experienced a high wear rate on its expensive 17-inch Michelin tyres.
Bodywork · April 2013Water leaked into the load area of a 508, filling the wheel well, entering through the cabin vent flaps.
Electrics · January 2013Minor electrical issues emerged on 508 models, including two windscreen wiper motor burnouts and several noisy electric boot lock mechanisms.
Fuel system · January 2013A 1.6 HDi 115 S&S EGC repeatedly entered limp home mode, appearing vulnerable to fuel quality issues.
Electrics · December 2012A 'gong' sound indicated that the car battery was failing to hold sufficient charge and required replacement.
Exhaust · November 2012A 2011 Peugeot 508 1.6 eHDi FAP Active suffered a blocked Diesel Particulate Filter, costing £213 for a forced regeneration.
What owners like about the Mk1
8 notes
The Peugeot 508 features a neatly styled exterior design, presenting an attractive and modern appearance on the road.
This model offers a comfortable and easy driving experience, making it suitable for both short trips and longer journeys.
The diesel engine options available for the Peugeot 508 are notably economical, providing good fuel efficiency.
The Peugeot 508 achieved a 5-star NCAP safety rating, with strong scores for adult and child protection.
The 2018 Peugeot 508 boasts a distinctive and eye-catching exterior design, setting it apart from competitors.
The 2018 Peugeot 508 features a high-quality and genuinely premium interior, enhancing the cabin experience.
The 2018 Peugeot 508 is equipped with a superb eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The 2018 Peugeot 508 received a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, with high scores for adult and child protection.
Other years0 known faults · 3 good notes
Other Peugeot 508 years: owner reports
What owners like
3 notes
The 2019 Peugeot 508 SW features an excellent eight-speed EAT8 torque-converter automatic transmission as standard across most of the range.
The 2019 Peugeot 508 SW boasts a superb interior with abundant technology included as standard.
The 2019 Peugeot 508 SW is very versatile, featuring a large boot.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 11 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Peugeot 508 advert and we check it in seconds.
An overdue cambelt is the most expensive thing a seller can fail to mention on a used 508. These are the figures UK specialists work to.
Timing belt (cambelt)Belt
1.5 BLUEHDI, DV5
60,000 miles or 5 years, whichever comes first
The 1.5 BlueHDi (DV5, also sold by Ford as the 1.5 EcoBlue) has a conventional DRY timing belt from the crank, which also drives the water pump, plus a short chain inside the engine linking the two camshafts. It is NOT a wet belt, though some parts sellers and blogs call it one. The known fault is that internal camshaft chain, not the belt: the chain was upgraded from 7mm to 8mm around February 2023, and Stellantis extended cover for chain failures on engines built from October 2017 to January 2023 to 10 years / 150,000 miles. No manufacturer belt interval was found (catalogue data for the same engine gives 10 years / 180,000 km); specialists advise 5 years / 60,000 miles, and that shorter figure is recorded.
Timing belt (cambelt)Belt
2.0 HDI, 2.0 BLUEHDI, DW10
125,000 miles or 10 years, whichever comes first
10 years or 125,000 miles. A very robust engine, but the interval should still not be exceeded. Water pump must be done simultaneously.
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: November 2026
Peugeot 508 buying questions
What are the most common Peugeot 508 problems?
Three stand out. Engine: the 1.6 diesel has failed badly on two 2011 508s at similar mileages (typically 72000 to 78000 miles). Engine: 1.6 THP (Prince) timing chain stretch and hydraulic tensioner failure causing 'death rattle' (typically 40000 to 80000 miles). Fuel system: diesel injector failures on first-generation 1.6 HDi cars, sometimes one injector at a time (typically 20000 to 42000 miles). The full list above is grouped by generation, with typical mileage and a rough repair cost for each.
Which Peugeot 508 years should I avoid?
No Peugeot 508 year is a write-off, but the Mk1 (2011 to 2018) 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 508?
Ask the seller about the engine and fuel system faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for misfire or rough running on one cylinder, loud metallic 'death rattle' on cold start and loss of power or limp mode. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against all 4 known faults before you travel. Check a Peugeot 508 advert →
What is the real MPG of a Peugeot 508?
Owners report 49.7 mpg on average across the Peugeot 508 engines with data, about 80% 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 411 owner submissions. Peugeot 508 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 508 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 508 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.