Peugeot 208: common faults & what to check

Which Peugeot 208 are you looking at?

4 generation variants documented. Pick the shape you recognise: the faults, the servicing and the timeline below all narrow to it. Free, no account needed.

Petrol

2 variants documented

2012–2020A92012–2020A91.2 petrolPetrolDocumented issues5 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: M 93 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 de.

2020–nowP212020–nowP211.2 turbo petrolPetrolDocumented issues2 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Vauxford via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Electric

1 variant documented

2020–nowP212020–nowP21EV (e-208)ElectricDocumented issues2 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Vauxford via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Fuel not stated

1 variant documented

2012–2020A92012–2020A91.6 turbo (GTi)Fuel not statedDocumented issues3 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: M 93 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 de.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this Peugeot 208

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a Peugeot 208 before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Serious issue

  Request full service history and confirm timing belt replacement date and mileage.

  See why

  PureTech 1.2 EB2 Timing Belt Premature Failure

  The 1.2 PureTech three-cylinder engine uses a rubber timing belt running inside the oil-wetted camshaft cover (belt-in-oil design, also called TBIO). The belt degrades faster than expected when saturated with hot oil, leading to premature failure well before the service interval. Belt failure causes catastrophic engine damage — bent valves, damaged pistons and cylinder head. Peugeot ran an extended warranty programme in Europe acknowledging the defect. NZ grey imports of A9-generation cars are heavily affected; early revised belts from 2018+ partially address but do not eliminate the issue.

  What you would notice

  • Engine suddenly cuts out without warning
  • Loud mechanical knock or slapping from engine on startup
  • Oil pressure warning light prior to failure
  • Rattling from timing cover at cold start
  • High oil consumption preceding failure

  Typically $800–$6,000 to put right.

• Serious issue

  Confirm with an invoice that the wet belt has been replaced with correct-spec 5W-30 oil.

  See why

  1.2 PureTech wet timing belt disintegration (non-GTi)

  The mainstream 1.0/1.2 PureTech petrol engines run a timing belt in oil that breaks up and blocks the oil ways, starving the engine and often destroying it because it is an interference design. Using the wrong oil or stretching service intervals accelerates it. Note the GTi's 1.6 THP uses a chain instead, so this specific fault applies to the ordinary 1.0/1.2 cars.

  What you would notice

  • Oil-pressure light flicker
  • Rubber flecks/sludge on the oil cap
  • Cold rattle or whine
  • No belt-change history

  Typically $1,200–$9,000 to put right.

• Serious issue

  Start the GTi cold and listen for chain rattle at the timing end.

  See why

  208 GTi 1.6 THP 'Prince' timing chain and carbon issues

  The 208 GTi's 1.6 THP is the same EP6 Prince engine as other PSA/BMW cars, with a timing chain that stretches early (cold-start rattle, risk of jumping and bending valves) and direct-injection carbon build-up on the inlet valves. Hard-driven GTis can also suffer turbo and high-pressure fuel-pump issues. Service history and a listen for cold rattle matter more than on an ordinary 208.

  What you would notice

  • Cold-start rattle from the timing end
  • Rough idle or misfire from carbon
  • Loss of boost / power
  • Cam-crank correlation fault codes

  Typically $1,500–$6,000 to put right.

• Serious issue

  Confirm the 208 is the 1.6 THP GTi 200 variant before applying this check — the 1.2 engines are not affected.

  See why

  EP6 1.6 THP Timing Chain Premature Stretch

  The 208 W2 offered in 1.6 THP GTi 200 trim carries the same EP6 Prince engine timing chain weakness documented in the 207 and 308. The simplex plastic-guided chain stretches from inadequate lubrication during extended oil change intervals or from repeated cold starts with degraded oil. The chain guides fracture first, depositing plastic debris in the sump which can block the oil pickup strainer and cause secondary bearing damage beyond the timing fault itself. Chain stretch produces cam-crank phase errors triggering P0016/P0017 codes. The base 1.2 VTi and 1.2 PureTech engines in the 208 do not share this specific fault — it applies only to the 1.6 THP GTi variant.

  What you would notice

  • Cold-start timing chain rattle from front of engine
  • P0016 or P0017 stored or pending fault codes
  • Rough running and hesitation under hard acceleration
  • Oil warning light if plastic guide debris blocks oil strainer
  • Engine management light with cam-timing related codes

  Typically $2,800–$8,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Confirm the 208 is the 1.2 PureTech turbo variant not the 1.2 VTi naturally-aspirated version as only the GDI unit is affected.

  See why

  PureTech 1.2 EB2 Carbon Intake Valve Buildup

  The 208 W2 equipped with the 1.2 PureTech turbocharged engine (EB2DT, 110 bhp) uses gasoline direct injection that bypasses intake valves with liquid fuel. Crankcase blow-by vapour from the PCV system coats intake valve stems and back-faces with oil-carbon deposits over time. In the 208 W2 the issue is compounded by a cramped engine bay that raises underbonnet temperatures, accelerating PCV oil vapour condensation onto cooler valve surfaces. Symptoms typically emerge between 60,000-80,000km and require walnut blasting via intake manifold removal for resolution. The naturally-aspirated 1.0 VTi and 1.2 VTi engines in the 208 do not share this fault as they use port injection.

  What you would notice

  • Rough warm idle, smooth cold idle
  • Stumble and hesitation at light throttle openings when warm
  • Misfires logged as P0300-P0303
  • Increased fuel consumption
  • Engine management light with cylinder misfire codes

  Typically $550–$1,300 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Inspect timing belt cover and camshaft cover for oil seepage.

  See why

  EB2 Engine Oil Leak from Timing Belt Housing and Cam Cover

  The A9-generation 208 with 1.2 EB2 PureTech engine develops oil leaks at the camshaft cover gasket and the timing belt housing where the belt-in-oil design allows oil pathways. Leaks are often slow initially but accelerate as gaskets age. Oil can reach hot exhaust components causing smoke and fire risk, and accelerates timing belt degradation. Very frequently observed on NZ grey imports with 60,000+ km.

  What you would notice

  • Oil spots under engine bay or on ground after parking
  • Burning oil smell from engine compartment
  • Visible oil weeping around timing cover or cam cover
  • Smoke from engine bay under load
  • Oil level dropping faster than expected

  Typically $350–$900 to put right.

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Peugeot 208’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

• Cambelt Replacement Cost
• Timing Chain Replacement Cost

Other Peugeot models