Used car guide

2008 Peugeot 207: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Peugeot 207s, from 15,996 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

15,996MOT tests in 2025
49%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
5,200typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Peugeot 207s than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Engine oil leaks1.9× usual
    Peugeot 207
    23.7% All 2008 cars
    12.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, 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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.3× usual
    Peugeot 207
    16.3% All 2008 cars
    7.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.2%, against 3.2% 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.

  • Exhaust system1.9× usual
    Peugeot 207
    17.1% All 2008 cars
    9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 2.4% of all 2008 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.

  • Braking performance1.8× usual
    Peugeot 207
    11.8% All 2008 cars
    6.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.2%, against 2.5% of all 2008 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.

  • Individual direction indicators2.6× usual
    Peugeot 207
    8.1% All 2008 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 1.3% 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: 1% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars. Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.7% here, against 11.3% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Peugeot 207 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    45% 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
    43% 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.

  • 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.

  • Brakes
    35% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    25% 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
    22% 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 engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Peugeot 207?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2014961Brakes 36%
20132,635Lights and electrics 34%
201212,631Lights and electrics 42%
201119,404Lights and electrics 44%
201022,207Suspension 45%
200920,735Suspension 46%
200714,346Lights and electrics 47%
20064,126Lights and electrics 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Peugeot 207s registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score