Used car guide

2008 Peugeot 308 petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Peugeot 308 first registered in 2008 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 10,192 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

10,192MOTs of 2008 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
51%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
5,200typical miles a year
2.4×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2008 Peugeot 308 petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2008 Peugeot 308 petrol than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Engine oil leaks2.4× usual
    Peugeot 308
    26.1% All 2008 cars
    11.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 0.3% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)5.2× usual
    Peugeot 308
    10.9% All 2008 cars
    2.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.7%, against 2% of all 2008 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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.1× usual
    Peugeot 308
    13.7% All 2008 cars
    6.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.1%, against 3% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Headlights1.8× usual
    Peugeot 308
    15.6% All 2008 cars
    8.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.6%, against 4.1% of all 2008 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.

  • Engine warning light2.9× usual
    Peugeot 308
    7.5% All 2008 cars
    2.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.5%, against 2.6% of all 2008 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.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 0.7% here, against 9.3% of all 2008 cars. Sub-frame: 0.8% here, against 5.9% of all 2008 cars.

Common 2008 Peugeot 308 petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2008 Peugeot 308 petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    38% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    38% 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
    36% 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.

  • 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    27% 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.

  • 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.

Known faults on the 2008 Peugeot 308 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2008 Peugeot 308 petrol

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

  1. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the 2008 Peugeot 308 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the exhaust emissions (catalyst)? (Flagged at MOT 5.2× as often on the 2008 Peugeot 308 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2008 Peugeot 308 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Peugeot 308?

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Other years

Every year of the Peugeot 308 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023198Tyres 13%
20223,930Tyres 28%
20213,259Tyres 21%
202011,235Tyres 25%
201921,284Tyres 30%
201825,239Tyres 30%
201727,414Tyres 31%
201643,573Tyres 32%
201541,816Tyres 34%
201436,050Tyres 36%
201330,664Tyres 36%
201229,841Tyres 37%
201128,187Suspension 37%
201036,124Tyres 38%
200933,439Suspension 42%
20072,653Suspension 51%

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 308 cars first registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score