Used Peugeot 2008 2013-2019 reliability

The 2008 you are looking at might have been drafted into family duties, so check for scuff marks to the plastics in the interior. Look for stains on any of the seat material, too, especially on higher-specification models with light-coloured upholstery, which will be more susceptible to marks.

Some models (again, higher specification) will have bigger alloy wheels than others. These might be more susceptible to kerb damage, which can be expensive to put right. Sticking with wheels, if your 2008 has Grip Control fitted, make sure it has mud and snow rated tyres too, because they supplement the work of the car’s electronics to maintain grip in slippery situations.

If you need an automatic gearbox, be careful. Pre-facelift cars came with an unlikeable automated manual gearbox that changes gear in a rather jerky fashion. It’s like having a learner driver change gear, only the gearbox in the Peugeot never learns how to do it properly. The facelifted version got a much better unit, though even this isn’t as good as some rivals’ automatic versions.

The diesel engine in the Peugeot 2008 will have a diesel particulate filter (DPF) fitted, which requires owners to take their cars on frequent motorway journeys to ensure that the DPF can self-clean, as this process is only triggered at high speed. Check how the previous owner has used the car if you are unsure.

Other potential problems with the DPF-equipped cars come if it has been shut off part way through its self-cleaning process. The result can be contamination of the oil system with fuel, which leads to the oil level rising gradually over time. This can cause damage to the engine, if it hasn’t already, so it’s worth getting the car checked out.

Diesel particulate filter (DPF)

The DPF on some diesel models made between 28 January 2018 and 7 May 2018 could be damaged by a piece of plastic in the exhaust system. Check with a dealer to find out if your car is affected, because the dealer might need to replace the filter.

Starter motor

The starter motor can overheat due to a problem with the electrical relay going to it and in extreme circumstances catch fire. Affected vehicles were made between 15 May 2016 and 12 October 2016 and will need to inspected by a dealer to check the relay and replace it if necessary.

Automatic gearbox

Some cars built between 13 May 2016 and 25 August 2016 that have an automatic gearbox might have a problem with the actuator, which could cause trouble when changing gear. If your car is affected, it'll need a new actuator to sort the issue.

Fuel leaks

There have been three recalls so far relating to fuel leaks. The first is for 2008s made between 9 January 2014 and 14 January 2014 that have potentially leaky high pressure fuel rails. The second is for fuel injector lines that can leak on examples made between 15 January 2014 and 12 June 2014; while the last one applies to cars made between 29 April 2015 and 9 July 2015, and is due to a faulty non-return valve in the fuel tank that could allow fuel to spill out in the event of a roll-over. Speak with your local Peugeot dealer to find out if your 2008 is affected by any of these recalls.

Front suspension and steering

A couple of recalls relate to issues with the front suspension. There was one for problems with the front suspension wishbones, where the mounting bolts could break on 2008s constructed between 24 September 2013 and 26 November 2014. There was also a safety concern with the bolts of certain front suspension components on vehicles manufactured from 18 January 2014 to 7 March 2014 that hadn't been tightened down correctly at the factory. Contact your local dealer for further information.

Driver's seat belt

A few 2008s built on the 14 July 2015 could have a loose lower seat belt mounting on the driver's side. Your Peugeot dealer will be able to let you know if your car is affected and sort the issue for you.

Loss of control

There have been two actions concerning a potential loss of control, with the first being a damaged front sub frame mounting caused during the manufacture of some examples made between 4 June 2014 and 11 June 2014. The second is for an issue with the anti-lock braking system with models built between 1 April 2016 and 6 April 2016, that could cause the wheels to stop turning, and preventing you from being able to steer around obstacles while braking.

Engine

There could be a potential issue with the engines on vehicles made from 1 October 2017 and 30 November 2017 where some components might fail, causing a loss of power, stalling or potential engine failure. Contact your local dealer for further information because you may need to have a replacement engine fitted if your car is affected. Also, there could be a potential oil leak on some models built from 21 January 2016 and 10 February 2016 that came fitted with a turbocharger.

Handbrake

Some Peugeot 2008s that were built between 29 January 2013 and 29 August 2013 might not have had the handbrake cable correctly adjusted at the factory, and will require a trip to the dealer to sort the issue.

NOx

The calibration of the engine management software on 2008s made between 25 September 2013 and 15 May 2016, and 1 February 2017 and 12 August 2019 could allow the engine to produce more NOx emissions than it should. Your local Peugeot dealer will be able to let you know if your car is affected by this and update the software for you.

Peugeot as a brand had a disappointing result according to our latest What Car? Reliability survey, coming in 22nd place out of 30 car manufacturers.

However, as a stand-alone model, the 2008 did well, coming in 10th place out of 34 cars surveyed in the small SUV class.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.