2012 Peugeot 3008 petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 Peugeot 3008 petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2012 Peugeot 3008 petrol than on all cars registered in 2012.

• Exhaust system2.1× usual
  Peugeot 3008

  10.7% All 2012 cars

  5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 1.4% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

• Exhaust emissions (catalyst)7.1× usual
  Peugeot 3008

  6.4% All 2012 cars

  0.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 6.1%, against 0.9% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for an engine warning light.

• Brake lights2.2× usual
  Peugeot 3008

  7.9% All 2012 cars

  3.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 7.3%, against 2.9% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

• Headlights2× usual
  Peugeot 3008

  8.1% All 2012 cars

  4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5.3%, against 2.7% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

  At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

• Ball joint1.7× usual
  Peugeot 3008

  9.1% All 2012 cars

  5.2%

  Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 2.9% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Common 2012 Peugeot 3008 petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2012 Peugeot 3008 petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  36% 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.

• Suspension
  34% 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.

• Brakes
  32% 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.

• Lights and electrics
  32% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Exhaust and emissions
  16% 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 leaks
  10% 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 3008 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.

• Timing belt that runs in oil (PureTech petrol)

  1.0 and 1.2 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)

• Electrical and heater faults

  All engines

  Electrical faults are the most common problem, and heating and ventilation failures are known.

  At the viewing: Test every electrical item and the heater and air con.

  Source: What Car?: used Peugeot 3008 (2009-2016) reliability

• Fuel pipe and fuel heater recalls

  Some cars

  A fuel return pipe could wear through and leak (built Oct 2009 to July 2010), and a fuel heater cover could overheat a connector (built Sept 2012 to Dec 2014).

  At the viewing: Ask a Peugeot dealer to confirm the recalls were done.

  Source: What Car?: used Peugeot 3008 (2009-2016) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2012 Peugeot 3008 petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. 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?
2. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2012 Peugeot 3008 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the exhaust emissions (catalyst)? (Flagged at MOT 7.1× as often on the 2012 Peugeot 3008 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the brake lights? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2012 Peugeot 3008 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?