Used car guide

2012 Peugeot 508: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Peugeot 508s, from 3,211 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,211MOT tests in 2025
63%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
9,400typical miles a year
3.4×the usual rate for anti-roll bar link joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Peugeot 508s than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints3.4× usual
    Peugeot 508
    11% All 2012 cars
    3.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 1.2% 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.

  • Number plate lights1.9× usual
    Peugeot 508
    13.6% All 2012 cars
    7.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 2.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Individual direction indicators2× usual
    Peugeot 508
    6% All 2012 cars
    3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 1.2% 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.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints4.8× usual
    Peugeot 508
    2.4% All 2012 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

Better than most

Exhaust system: 1% here, against 5.5% of all 2012 cars. Sub-frame: 0.9% here, against 5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Peugeot 508 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    39% 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
    36% 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
    33% 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
    31% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    12% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Peugeot 508?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022540Tyres 27%
20211,226Tyres 28%
20201,578Tyres 31%
20192,447Tyres 30%
2016901Tyres 29%
2015989Tyres 33%
20141,311Tyres 37%
20132,651Tyres 37%
20112,253Suspension 39%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Peugeot 508s registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score