Stylish French crossover with bold second-generation design
The 2008 competes with the Renault Captur, VW T-Cross, and Ford Puma in the UK's fastest-growing segment. Used Mk1 models (2013-2019) start from £5,000-£7,000, while the sharper Mk2 (2020+) commands £14,000-£22,000. The electric e-2008 variant adds zero-emission capability from around £18,000 used. Peugeot's reliability has improved markedly, with the 2020 model achieving a 96% MOT pass rate.
We track 6 known issues across the Peugeot 2008 range, including 1 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Peugeot 2008? Enter the reg to see which of our 6 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
A94 (2013–2023) — Petrol options included the 1.2 PureTech, 1.2 PureTech, 1.6 VTi, with 1.4 HDi, 1.5 BlueHDi, 1.6 HDi, 1.6 HDi on the diesel side. Our database flags 6 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Timing belt issues (£400–£600 to address).
The 1.2 PureTech EB2 engine uses a wet timing belt that runs immersed in engine oil rather than a conventional dry belt or chain. This belt drives the camshafts and oil pump and is critical to engine operation. The wet belt system is prone to premature failure, with belts deteriorating from 40,000 miles onwards due to oil contamination and heat cycles. When the belt fails, it causes immediate and catastrophic engine damage as the interference design means pistons strike valves. This is a well-documented design flaw affecting thousands of UK vehicles, with failure rates significantly higher than conventional timing systems.
Wet belt failure causes immediate and complete engine destruction due to piston-to-valve contact in this interference engine design. A replacement engine typically costs £4,000-£8,000 fitted. Many insurance companies consider this a design defect and may not cover claims. The vehicle becomes a total loss in most cases, as repair costs exceed the car's value.
Listen carefully for a rattle or ticking noise from the engine on cold start — this is the most common early sign. Ask for evidence of chain replacement in the service history. On higher-mileage cars without documented replacement, budget for preventative work.
The diesel particulate filter (DPF) on 1.6 HDi and 1.5 BlueHDi engines blocks at rates far exceeding the national average, particularly on vehicles used for short urban journeys. The regeneration system struggles with stop-start driving patterns common in urban areas, leading to incomplete burns and progressive filter clogging. This affects both the earlier DV6 1.6 HDi and newer DV5 1.5 BlueHDi engines, though symptoms and failure patterns vary between the two.
Complete DPF blockage causes the engine to enter limp mode with severely restricted power and may prevent starting. Professional DPF cleaning costs £200-400, while replacement units cost £1,000-2,000 fitted. Continued driving with a blocked DPF can damage the turbocharger and EGR system, creating additional repair costs of £1,500-3,000.
Ask about the car's typical usage — short urban journeys prevent DPF regeneration. Check for DPF warning lights and ask about any previous regeneration issues. A forced regeneration at a garage costs far less than a DPF replacement.
The electric steering lock mechanism fails at 22.5 times the fleet average, particularly on higher mileage examples. This electronic system locks the steering column when the engine is switched off and should unlock automatically when the key is detected. Failure typically manifests as the steering remaining locked when attempting to start the car, or the system failing to engage when the car is parked. The issue affects both 1.6 diesel and 1.2 petrol variants and appears to be related to motor wear in the locking mechanism rather than electronic control faults.
Complete steering lock failure can leave the vehicle immobilised with the steering locked in position, requiring recovery. Replacement of the steering lock mechanism typically costs £300-600 including programming. In some cases, the entire steering column requires replacement, costing £800-1,200.
During the test drive, check the steering for excessive play, vibration or pulling to one side. Listen for groaning or whining when turning the wheel at low speed. Power steering fluid level and condition should be checked on hydraulic systems.
The exhaust system shows premature failure rates up to 27 times the national fleet average across all engine variants, with the 1.6 petrol particularly affected. The issues centre on corroded mounting points, failed rubber hangers, and premature corrosion of the rear silencer and intermediate sections. The exhaust routing under the vehicle exposes joints and mounting points to road salt and moisture, leading to structural failure of hangers and mounting brackets rather than just internal corrosion of the silencer boxes.
Exhaust mounting failure allows sections to hang loose, creating noise and potential contact with the road surface. Complete exhaust system replacement typically costs £300-600 depending on which sections fail. Leaking exhaust joints can allow fumes into the cabin and will cause MOT failure.
Check for any engine warning lights on the dashboard. Ask about the car's MOT emissions history — repeated failures suggest underlying issues. A pre-purchase diagnostic scan is especially worthwhile to check for stored emissions fault codes.
Constant velocity joint boots fail at 15.2 times the fleet average rate, affecting all engine variants but most severely the 1.6 diesel at lower mileages. The outer CV joint boots are particularly prone to splitting, allowing dirt and moisture to contaminate the joint and causing premature wear. This appears to be a material quality issue with the rubber boots rather than a design problem with the joint itself. Early detection and boot replacement can prevent expensive CV joint replacement.
Split CV boots allow contamination of the joint, leading to premature CV joint failure within 10,000-20,000 miles. Boot replacement costs £80-150 per side if caught early. Complete CV joint replacement costs £200-350 per side when the joint itself fails due to contamination.
Listen for clunking or vibration from underneath when pulling away or changing direction. Check for play in the driveshafts by rocking the car in gear with the handbrake on. Worn CV boots are a telltale sign — look for grease splatter around the inner wheel arch.
For the full breakdown of all 6 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Peugeot 2008 common problems page.
Based on 498k real DVSA MOT tests, the Peugeot 2008 fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is emissions failure at 37x the fleet average, followed by steering lock missing or not functioning (23x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Peugeot 2008 MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 13k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include timing belt (£350–£500), wet timing belt service (£400–£600).
See the full Peugeot 2008 service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Peugeot 2008 has some well-documented weak points, including 1 safety-critical issue that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable. 2020-2022 Mk2 models are the clear pick, with the 2020 scoring a 96% MOT pass rate versus just 75% for the 2013 Mk1. The 1.2 PureTech 130 in post-2019 form has an improved timing belt design. Avoid 2013-2015 Mk1 models which suffer the worst wet belt failure rates and jerky EAT6 gearboxes. The e-2008 electric is best from 2021 onwards when battery thermal management was refined.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Peugeot 2008, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 6 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 6 known Peugeot 2008 issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.