Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
Enter a registration number to see MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and more for any Peugeot 208.
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With 258,718 currently licensed in the UK, the Peugeot 208 is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the 208 4 stars in 2019, with 91% adult occupant and 86% child protection scores.
It has a 77.2% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, lighting, brakes.
Annual running costs are estimated at £2,226 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £185/month or 30p/mile.
Theft risk is rated very low at 2.7 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2019
MOT Pass Rate
77.2%
280,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£185
est. annual total
New From
£20,495
Euro NCAP tested the 208 in 2019 and awarded it 4 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
91%
Child Occupant
86%
Pedestrian
56%
Safety Assist
71%
There are 54 known DVSA recalls affecting the Peugeot 208. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2026/183
On affected vehicles the Lane Keep Assist tell-tale fails to illuminate if the front camera is blocked meaning no warning light appears in the instrument cluster.
Build dates: 2024-04-11 to 2025-04-09
R/2026/071
Affected vehicles may have been assembled with contact or with a reduced clearance between the Gasoline Particulate Filter pipe and the pole protection cap of the 48V Belt Starter Generator. There is a possibility of contact between these components leading to water infiltration and an electrical arch which could trigger a thermal event.
Build dates: 2023-06-07 to 2026-01-21
R/2025/344
Vehicles may be affected by incorrect performance of the On-Board-Diagnostics related to Selective Catalytic Reduction system and/or Diesel Particle Filter. The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) may not illuminate in the event of a malfunction and therefore does not comply with emission regulations.
Build dates: 2017-11-07 to 2020-10-02
R/2025/277
On affected vehicles there there may be loose connections between a high-pressure fuel pipe and the engine fuel rail which potentially could lead to a leak and risk of fire.
Build dates: 2023-04-11 to 2025-04-22
R/2025/246
Vehicles may be affected by premature wearing of the camshaft drive chain leading to abnormal noise or to a breakage of the chain in the worst case.
Build dates: 2019-04-16 to 2023-01-31
+ 49 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 280,000 MOT tests, the 208 has a first-time pass rate of 77.2% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The 208 is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Peugeot 208 are estimated at around £2,226 per year, or £185 per month.
Fuel
£881
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£745
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The 208 achieves a combined fuel economy of around 65.7 mpg (55.4 mpg urban, 74.3 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 208 | PETROL | 65.7 mpg | 1.0L |
| 208 | PETROL | 44.8 mpg | 1.2L |
| 208 | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 65.7 mpg | 1.2L |
| 208 | DIESEL | 83.1 mpg | 1.4L |
| 208 | DIESEL | 67 mpg | 1.5L |
| 208 | DIESEL | 78.5 mpg | 1.6L |
| 208 | PETROL | 50.4 mpg | 1.6L |
| 208 HATCH | PETROL | 65.7 mpg | 1.0L |
Starting from £20,495 new, a Peugeot 208 typically retains about 50% after 3 years and 42% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 68% | £13,850 | −£6,645 |
| 2 years | 57% | £11,750 | −£8,745 |
| 3 years | 50% | £10,350 | −£10,145 |
| 4 years | 45% | £9,300 | −£11,195 |
| 5 years | 42% | £8,550 | −£11,945 |
| 6 years | 39% | £7,950 | −£12,545 |
| 7 years | 37% | £7,500 | −£12,995 |
| 8 years | 35% | £7,100 | −£13,395 |
| 9 years | 33% | £6,750 | −£13,745 |
| 10 years | 31% | £6,400 | −£14,095 |
The 208 has a theft rate of 2.7 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated very low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.
There are currently 258,718 licensed and 6,166 SORN 208s in the UK (264,884 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The 208 has a 77.2% first-time MOT pass rate based on 280,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the 208 4 out of 5 stars when tested in 2019. It scored 91% for adult occupant protection, 86% for child occupant protection, 56% for vulnerable road users, and 71% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old 208 are estimated at around £2,226 per year (£185/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 54 known safety recalls affecting the 208. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The 208 has a theft rate of 2.7 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated very low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.
A new 208 starts from around £20,495. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 42% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
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