2013 Peugeot 3008: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2013 Peugeot 3008?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2013 Peugeot 3008 than on all cars registered in 2013.

• Brake lights3.5× usual
  Peugeot 3008

  12.7% All 2013 cars

  3.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 11.7%, against 2.8% of all 2013 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.

• Number plate lights2.5× usual
  Peugeot 3008

  15% All 2013 cars

  6.1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 4.4%, against 1.8% of all 2013 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.

• Sidelights3.2× usual
  Peugeot 3008

  12.8% All 2013 cars

  4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 10.3%, against 3.5% of all 2013 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.

• Drive shaft (CV) joints2.7× usual
  Peugeot 3008

  9% All 2013 cars

  3.3%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5.8%, against 1.7% of all 2013 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.

• Coil springs1.7× usual
  Peugeot 3008

  14.5% All 2013 cars

  8.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 9.9%, against 4% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

  At 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.

Common 2013 Peugeot 3008 MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2013 Peugeot 3008 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Suspension
  44% 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
  41% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

• Tyres
  37% 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
  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.

• Driveshafts and joints
  9% of testsRough price £60–£350

  At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  8% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Known faults on the 2013 Peugeot 3008

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.

• Diesel injectors and particulate filter

  Diesel

  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

• 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)

• Electrical and heater faults

  All engines

  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

• Fuel pipe and fuel heater recalls

  Some cars

  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

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2013 Peugeot 3008

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

1. Have the injectors or DPF been replaced?
2. 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?
3. Any recent work on the brake lights? (Flagged at MOT 3.5× as often on the 2013 Peugeot 3008 as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the number plate lights? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the 2013 Peugeot 3008 as on other cars the same age.)
5. Any recent work on the sidelights? (Flagged at MOT 3.2× as often on the 2013 Peugeot 3008 as on other cars the same age.)
6. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?