2012 Peugeot 308 petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 Peugeot 308 petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2012 Peugeot 308 petrol than on all cars registered in 2012.

• Drive shaft (CV) joints2.3× usual
  Peugeot 308

  8.8% All 2012 cars

  3.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 6.8%, against 1.9% of all 2012 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.

• Anti-lock braking system4.8× usual
  Peugeot 308

  2.4% All 2012 cars

  0.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 0.4% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

  At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

• Exhaust emissions (catalyst)3.1× usual
  Peugeot 308

  2.8% All 2012 cars

  0.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, 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.

• Engine warning light2.1× usual
  Peugeot 308

  3.5% All 2012 cars

  1.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 1.7% 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.

Common 2012 Peugeot 308 petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2012 Peugeot 308 petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  35% 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.

• Brakes
  31% 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.

• Suspension
  25% 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.

• Lights and electrics
  23% 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
  10% 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
  9% 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 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.

• 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)

• Cooling system faults

  All engines

  The cooling can fail to work properly, or run when it isn't needed.

  At the viewing: Watch the temperature gauge and listen for the fan running constantly.

  Source: What Car?: used Peugeot 308 (2007-2013) reliability

• Gearbox sticking in neutral

  Manual gearbox

  Some owners report the manual gearbox getting stuck in neutral.

  At the viewing: Go through every gear several times.

  Source: What Car?: used Peugeot 308 (2007-2013) reliability

• Electrical faults and recalls

  All engines

  Switches and controls can play up, and there were recalls for brakes, headlights and electrics.

  At the viewing: Test every switch, and ask a Peugeot dealer about outstanding recalls.

  Source: What Car?: used Peugeot 308 (2007-2013) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2012 Peugeot 308 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 drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2012 Peugeot 308 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the anti-lock braking system? (Flagged at MOT 4.8× as often on the 2012 Peugeot 308 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the exhaust emissions (catalyst)? (Flagged at MOT 3.1× as often on the 2012 Peugeot 308 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?