Peugeot 3008 common problems and MOT failures
What goes wrong on a used Peugeot 3008, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 144,223 MOTs done during 2025), and what to check before you buy one.
Pick the year
Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).
202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009
What usually goes wrong with a Peugeot 3008?
Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.
- Cars registered 2012–2026 · 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol
Timing belt that runs in oil (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)
- Cars registered 2009–2016 · Diesel
Diesel injectors and particulate filter
Diesel injectors can fail and are very expensive, and particulate filter repairs are costly without regular motorway use.
At the viewing: Listen for rattles at start-up, look for smoke, and watch for warnings.
Source: What Car?: used Peugeot 3008 (2009-2016) reliability
- Cars registered 2017–2018 · Built 2017 to 2018
Engine failure recall (built Oct to Nov 2017)
Early cars built 1 October to 30 November 2017 may have internal engine parts that can break, and the engine might need replacing. Others built 27 April to 30 May 2018 could leak oil from a loose sealing plug.
At the viewing: Ask a Peugeot dealer to check the VIN for outstanding recalls.
Source: What Car?: used Peugeot 3008 (2017-2024) reliability
- Cars registered 2019–2020 · Built 2019 to 2020
Rear suspension bolts and hybrid battery
Cars built Oct 2019 to Jan 2020 may have rear suspension bolts that can break, and a few plug-in hybrids built late 2019 need a new battery pack.
At the viewing: Ask for proof the recalls were done.
Source: What Car?: used Peugeot 3008 (2017-2024) reliability
- Cars registered 2009–2016 · All engines
Electrical and heater faults
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
- Cars registered 2009–2016 · Some cars
Fuel pipe and fuel heater recalls
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
- Cars registered 2017–2024 · Diesel
DPF, AdBlue and emissions campaigns (diesel)
A plastic exhaust part could damage the particulate filter on cars built Jan to May 2018, the AdBlue system could block on cars built Oct 2019 to Mar 2020, and some cars built 2017 to 2019 need an emissions update. Diesels have more exhaust and engine faults than petrols.
At the viewing: Watch for warning lights and ask a dealer about outstanding work.
Source: What Car?: used Peugeot 3008 (2017-2024) reliability
- Cars registered 2017–2024 · All engines
Infotainment and warning light glitches
Owners report faulty infotainment and erratic warning lights.
At the viewing: Use the screen and check no warnings stay on.
Source: What Car?: used Peugeot 3008 (2017-2024) reliability
Common Peugeot 3008 MOT failures to check
Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2025.
Number plate lights
up to 4.2× usualStands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Rough price £5–£40 our estimateAt the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.
Drive shaft (CV) joints
up to 6.3× usualStands out on cars registered in 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Rough price £60–£350 our estimateAt the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.
Headlights
up to 3× usualStands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Rough price £40–£400 our estimateAt the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.
Engine oil leaks
up to 3× usualStands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2015 and 2016.
Rough price £80–£600 our estimateAt the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.
Coil springs
up to 2.8× usualStands out on cars registered in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanicAt the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.
Suspension arm bushes and joints
up to 1.9× usualStands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanicAt the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.
Peugeot 3008 MOT pass rate by year
Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2021 Peugeot 3008 did best (89% passed first time, 2 points above all 2021 cars) and the 2009 did worst (42%, 16 points below all 2009 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.
| Year | Pass first time | All cars that year | MOT tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 93% | 92% +1 | 276 (small sample) |
| 2022 | 89% | 89% +0 | 9,343 |
| 2021 | 89% | 87% +2 | 11,611 |
| 2020 | 86% | 86% +0 | 11,571 |
| 2019 | 82% | 84% -2 | 18,974 |
| 2018 | 78% | 81% -3 | 18,548 |
| 2017 | 73% | 78% -5 | 16,365 |
| 2016 | 64% | 75% -11 | 6,428 |
| 2015 | 64% | 72% -8 | 7,822 |
| 2014 | 59% | 69% -10 | 7,737 |
| 2013 | 51% | 66% -15 | 10,083 |
| 2012 | 54% | 63% -9 | 9,539 |
| 2011 | 51% | 61% -10 | 8,646 |
| 2010 | 47% | 59% -12 | 6,719 |
| 2009 | 42% | 58% -16 | 561 |
Questions to ask the seller before buying a Peugeot 3008
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- 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?
- Have the injectors or DPF been replaced?
- Have the engine and oil leak recalls been done?
- Have the rear suspension bolt and battery recalls been done?
- Any recent work on the number plate lights? (Flagged at MOT 4.2× as often on the Peugeot 3008 as on other cars the same age.)
- Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 6.3× as often on the Peugeot 3008 as on other cars the same age.)
Looking at a Peugeot 3008?
Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.
Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score