Most Reliable Peugeot Models: Real MOT Data Analysis
We analysed 1,428,753 real UK MOT tests to reveal which Peugeot models pass most often, which years to buy, and which to avoid entirely.
1,428,753 MOT tests analysed
Real DVSA data covering every Peugeot model from 2000-2023
Key Findings
Most Reliable Model
Peugeot AUTO-SLEEPERS
94.3% pass rate
Best Single Year
BOXER 2010 Diesel
79.9% pass rate
Peugeot vs National Average
66.1% vs 71.5%
-5.4% below average
Proven Durability Champion
BOXER 2010
+21.0% at 13+ years
Peugeot has built its reputation on reliability, but does the data back it up? We analysed 1,428,753 real MOT tests from the DVSA database to find out exactly which Peugeot models live up to the hype and which ones fall short.
This isn't survey data or owner opinions. These are actual pass/fail results from UK garages, covering every Peugeot model sold in the UK from 2000 to 2023.
How Peugeot Compares to Rivals
Peugeot ranks #58 out of 75 manufacturers with a 66.1% average MOT pass rate. That's below the national average of 71.5%:
| Manufacturer | Pass Rate | Rank | Tests Analysed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen | 72.2% | #43 | 2,967,545 |
| Ford | 68.5% | #51 | 4,432,652 |
| Peugeot | 66.1% | #58 | 1,428,753 |
| Vauxhall | 65.4% | #59 | 3,038,498 |
| Citroen | 63.1% | #61 | 1,028,111 |
| Renault | 61.8% | #66 | 1,009,899 |
The verdict: Volkswagen maintains a lead among competitors, while Peugeot sits at #58. However, newer Peugeot models significantly outperform this average.
Best Peugeot Models by MOT Pass Rate
Looking at overall reliability across all years, here's how Peugeot's core models rank against the 71.5% national average:
| Model | Pass Rate | vs National (71.5%) | Tests | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUTO-SLEEPERS | 94.3% | +22.8% | 510 | 2017-2019 |
| ELDDIS | 90.4% | +18.9% | 2,342 | 2016-2020 |
| BAILEY | 89.1% | +17.6% | 943 | 2017-2019 |
| UNCLASSIFIED | 87.1% | +15.6% | 3,969 | 2012-2020 |
| 108 | 83.0% | +11.5% | 73,245 | 2014-2021 |
| RIFTER | 81.2% | +9.7% | 6,343 | 2018-2020 |
| TRAVELLER | 79.2% | +7.7% | 1,062 | 2017-2019 |
| BOXER | 75.4% | +3.9% | 47,633 | 2000-2022 |
| 2008 | 75.3% | +3.8% | 114,076 | 2013-2021 |
| 208 | 73.4% | +1.9% | 194,735 | 2012-2021 |
Top performer
The AUTO-SLEEPERS dramatically outperforms other Peugeots with an 94.3% pass rate, putting it among the most reliable cars in the database.
Proven Durability Champions: Which Peugeot Models Age Best?
These Peugeot models have proven their durability with 11+ years of real-world MOT data. They're compared against the national average for cars of the same age:
High-confidence data: Only vehicles with 11+ years of MOT history and 500+ tests are included in this ranking.
| Model | Year | Fuel | vs Same-Age Average | Tested At | Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOXER | 2010 | Diesel | +21.0% | 13+ years | 78.3% |
| BOXER | 2010 | Diesel | +18.2% | 11-12 years | 81.1% |
| BOXER | 2011 | Diesel | +17.6% | 11-12 years | 80.4% |
| BOXER | 2012 | Diesel | +16.9% | 11-12 years | 79.7% |
| BOXER | 2008 | Diesel | +15.5% | 13+ years | 72.8% |
| BOXER | 2009 | Diesel | +15.4% | 13+ years | 72.8% |
| BOXER | 2007 | Diesel | +12.3% | 13+ years | 69.6% |
| BOXER | 2003 | Diesel | +10.3% | 13+ years | 67.7% |
| BOXER | 2006 | Diesel | +10.0% | 13+ years | 67.3% |
| BOXER | 2004 | Diesel | +9.0% | 13+ years | 66.3% |
How to read this: A score of "+15%" means the model passes MOTs 15 percentage points more often than the average car of the same age. These are proven results from vehicles that have genuinely aged well.
Proven durability champion
The BOXER 2010 outperforms the average 13+ years-old car by 21 percentage points, with 890 MOT tests proving its reliability.
Early Performers: Strong Start, Unproven Durability
These newer Peugeot models (3-6 years old) show strong early results, but haven't yet proven long-term durability:
Important caveat: Durability NOT yet proven - these vehicles have not been tested at older ages. Older versions of the same model may tell a different story at 11+ years.
| Model | Year | Fuel | vs Same-Age Average | Tested At | Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PARTNER | 2017 | Petrol | +7.6% | 5-6 years | 88.8% |
| 108 | 2019 | Petrol | +3.5% | 3-4 years | 89.4% |
| 108 | 2020 | Petrol | +3.0% | 3-4 years | 88.8% |
| 108 | 2017 | Petrol | +2.6% | 5-6 years | 83.8% |
| 108 | 2016 | Petrol | +2.3% | 5-6 years | 83.5% |
| 108 | 2018 | Petrol | +2.0% | 5-6 years | 83.2% |
| 208 | 2019 | Petrol | +1.9% | 3-4 years | 87.8% |
| 2008 ALLURE PREM PURETECH S/S | 2019 | Petrol | +1.8% | 3-4 years | 87.7% |
What this means: These models are performing well in their early years, but we recommend checking the Durability Champions section above to see how older versions of the same model family have fared over time.
Peugeot 208: Year-by-Year Breakdown
The 208 has 194,735 tests in our database with an overall 73.4% pass rate:
| Year | Fuel | Pass Rate | vs Same-Year Avg | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Petrol | 91.0% | +0.2% | 346 |
| 2020 | Petrol | 88.6% | +0.9% | 9,958 |
| 2020 | Electric | 88.3% | +0.7% | 2,665 |
| 2020 | Diesel | 88.2% | +0.5% | 152 |
| 2019 | Petrol | 87.8% | +1.5% | 16,068 |
| 2019 | Diesel | 81.5% | -4.7% | 972 |
| 2018 | Petrol | 82.4% | -1.8% | 14,009 |
| 2018 | Diesel | 75.7% | -8.6% | 1,348 |
| 2017 | Petrol | 77.5% | -4.2% | 15,281 |
| 2017 | Diesel | 76.2% | -5.5% | 2,415 |
| 2016 | Petrol | 77.1% | -1.5% | 21,398 |
| 2016 | Diesel | 70.2% | -8.5% | 4,524 |
208 verdict: The 2021 petrol model achieves an excellent 91.0% pass rate.
Peugeot Hybrids vs Petrol vs Diesel
Peugeot's fuel type comparison shows clear differences in reliability:
| Fuel Type | Average Pass Rate | vs National | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 87.5% | +16.0% | 4,772 |
| Hybrid Electric | 85.7% | +14.2% | 1,154 |
| Petrol | 68.4% | -3.1% | 706,216 |
| Plug-in Hybrid | 63.6% | -7.9% | 1,173 |
| Diesel | 63.4% | -8.1% | 702,066 |
The hybrid advantage: Peugeot hybrids pass MOTs 17% more often than petrols and 22% more often than diesels.
Peugeot Models to Avoid
Not all Peugeots are reliable. These specific model/year combinations have failure rates well above average:
| Model | Year | Fuel | Pass Rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PARTNER | 2017 | Diesel | 62.0% (-20.1% vs same-age) | 12,977 |
| BIPPER | 2017 | Diesel | 62.9% (-19.3% vs same-age) | 1,389 |
| PARTNER | 2018 | Diesel | 65.5% (-19.3% vs same-age) | 13,545 |
| 5008 | 2013 | Diesel | 49.9% (-21.3% vs same-age) | 2,341 |
| EXPERT | 2016 | Diesel | 60.5% (-19.6% vs same-age) | 4,099 |
| BIPPER | 2016 | Diesel | 60.9% (-18.9% vs same-age) | 1,359 |
| 5008 | 2016 | Diesel | 61.2% (-18.8% vs same-age) | 1,765 |
| BIPPER | 2015 | Diesel | 58.2% (-19.0% vs same-age) | 2,677 |
| 5008 | 2014 | Diesel | 54.5% (-20.1% vs same-age) | 1,729 |
| PARTNER | 2019 | Diesel | 70.0% | 13,024 |
Pattern to avoid
Early 2017-2019 diesel PARTNERs, 2015-2017 diesel BIPPERs, 2013-2016 diesel 5008s are the models that drag down Peugeot's average. The 3008 2010 performs 16% worse than the average car of the same age at 11-12 years - this is proven poor durability. These vehicles fail MOTs more often than they pass.
What Goes Wrong on Peugeots?
When Peugeots fail MOTs, these are the most common causes:
| Failure Category | Total Failures |
|---|---|
| 1. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 228,535 |
| 2. Suspension | 134,051 |
| 3. Brakes | 109,548 |
| 4. Body, chassis, structure | 101,302 |
| 5. Tyres | 90,274 |
| 6. Visibility | 77,343 |
| 7. Noise, emissions and leaks | 60,136 |
Pre-MOT checklist for Peugeot owners:
- Check all bulbs (number plate lights are commonly missed)
- Inspect suspension bushes and anti-roll bar links
- Check brake pad thickness and disc condition
- Ensure tyres meet 1.6mm tread requirement
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Buying Recommendations
Best If Buying Nearly New
2019-2023 models with highest early pass rates
- PARTNER 2019 Petrol: 94% pass rate
Note: Long-term durability not yet proven for these newer models
Best If Buying Used (Proven)
11+ years of proven durability data
- BOXER 2000-2012: +13% vs same-age (proven at 11+ years)
Peugeot Models to Avoid (Proven Poor)
Proven below average at 11+ years - not just old, genuinely problematic
- 3008 2009-2010: -14% vs same-age (proven poor at 11+ years) (Below average durability at 11-12 years)
- 207 2010-2012: -13% vs same-age (proven poor at 11+ years) (Below average durability at 11-12 years)
- 5008 2010-2010: -13% vs same-age (proven poor at 11+ years) (Below average durability at 11-12 years)
- 307 2004-2005: -12% vs same-age (proven poor at 11+ years) (Below average durability at 13+ years)
About This Data
This analysis uses real MOT test results from the DVSA database, covering 1,428,753 tests on Peugeot vehicles between 2000 and 2023.
Year-Adjusted Scoring (v2.1): In year-by-year breakdowns, each vehicle is compared against the national average for vehicles of the same model year. This removes the natural bias where newer cars pass more often, allowing fair comparisons across eras.
Evidence-Tiered Durability: We separate "proven durability" (vehicles tested at 11+ years old) from "early performers" (3-6 years old). Only vehicles with proven long-term data are used for durability claims. Age-band comparisons use weighted national averages.
Minimum thresholds: 500 tests for proven durability rankings, 1,000 tests for early performer rankings. Pass rates are calculated as first-time passes, excluding retests.
The overall national average MOT pass rate is 71.51% based on 32.3 million tests across all manufacturers. Year-specific averages range from ~59% (2009 vehicles) to ~88% (2020 vehicles).
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