2012 Peugeot 207 petrol: common problems and MOT failures
What MOT testers find on the petrol Peugeot 207 first registered in 2012 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 25,150 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 Peugeot 207 petrol?
Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2012 Peugeot 207 petrol than on all cars registered in 2012.
- Exhaust system3.3× usualPeugeot 20716.5% All 2012 cars5%
Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 1.4% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanicAt the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.
- Engine oil leaks2.3× usualPeugeot 20713.8% All 2012 cars5.9%
Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £80–£600 our estimateAt the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.
- Drive shaft (CV) joints2.9× usualPeugeot 20711% All 2012 cars3.8%
Failed outright at MOT: 8.5%, against 1.9% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £60–£350 our estimateAt the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.
- Number plate lights2× usualPeugeot 20713.1% All 2012 cars6.7%
Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £5–£40 our estimateAt the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.
- Individual direction indicators2.6× usualPeugeot 2077.6% All 2012 cars2.9%
Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 1.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £10–£80 our estimateAt the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.
Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.4% here, against 9.1% of all 2012 cars. Shock absorbers: 1.1% here, against 5.8% of all 2012 cars.
Common 2012 Peugeot 207 petrol MOT failures and advisories
The share of 2012 Peugeot 207 petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Lights and electrics37% of testsRough price £10–£80
At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Tyres34% of testsRough price £70–£150
At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
- Suspension29% of testsRough price £120–£400
At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
- Brakes26% of testsRough price £150–£350
At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
- Exhaust and emissions18% of testsRough price £100–£1,200
At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.
- Oil and fluid leaks15% of testsRough price £80–£600
At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.
Known faults on the 2012 Peugeot 207 petrol
Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.
- All engines
Air con duct recall (could block the pedals)
About 90,000 cars were recalled because an air con duct could come loose and get in the way of the pedals. Other recalls covered front seatbelt fixings, rear brake hoses touching the springs, a battery earth cable that could break, the wipers and the heated seats.
At the viewing: Ask a Peugeot dealer to check the VIN for outstanding recalls.
- 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol
Timing belt that runs in oil (PureTech petrol)
The 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol engines use a timing belt that runs in the engine oil (a “wet belt”). It can break down early and shed rubber that blocks the oil supply, which can wreck the engine. Some also burn too much oil. Stellantis now covers earlier engines for belt and oil-burning problems for up to 10 years or 112,000 miles, as long as the car has been serviced on schedule.
At the viewing: Ask for a full service history showing the right oil, and when the belt was last checked or changed. Check the oil level on the dipstick, and that no oil-pressure or engine warning light stays on.
Source: Parkers: Stellantis wet belt compensation, and the cars at risk, Stellantis: compensation policy for earlier PureTech 1.0 and 1.2 engines (7 May 2025)
- All engines
Catalytic converter warning light
An engine warning light with code P0420 usually means the catalytic converter has worn out and needs replacing.
At the viewing: Make sure the engine warning light goes out, and ask whether a new cat has been fitted.
- Manual gearbox
Loose gear cables
Loose gearchange cables make the change awkward and the lever vibrate or creak. New cables fix it.
At the viewing: Go through every gear and feel for a sloppy or awkward change.
- All engines
Rear brakes grinding after standing
The rear pads can stick to the discs when the car has sat for a while, causing grinding.
At the viewing: Listen for grinding from the back when you first move off.
- All engines
Creaking front suspension
The front shock absorber bump stops dry out and creak on bumpy roads.
At the viewing: Drive over speed bumps and listen.
- Petrol
Noisy auxiliary belt (petrol)
A worn auxiliary belt, pulley or tensioner makes a noise that rises and falls with the revs.
At the viewing: Listen at the front of the engine as you rev it.
Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2012 Peugeot 207 petrol
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- Have the recalls been done, including the air con duct one?
- When was the timing belt last checked or changed, and has it had the right oil at every service? Is the car still within Stellantis’ extended PureTech cover?
- Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the 2012 Peugeot 207 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
- Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2012 Peugeot 207 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
- Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.9× as often on the 2012 Peugeot 207 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
- Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?
Looking at a Peugeot 207?
Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.
Other years
Every year of the Peugeot 207 compared
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2,927 | Brakes 35% |
| 2013 | 8,266 | Tyres 32% |
| 2011 | 64,976 | Lights and electrics 42% |
| 2010 | 77,256 | Suspension 42% |
| 2009 | 75,078 | Suspension 42% |
| 2008 | 61,175 | Lights and electrics 43% |
| 2007 | 56,905 | Lights and electrics 46% |
| 2006 | 17,090 | Lights and electrics 53% |
Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Peugeot 207 cars first registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score