Peugeot 308 common problems & fixes (Mk2 "T9" 2013–2021, Mk3 2021 on)

Written by the C4R team from DVSA data and owner reports. Fact-checked 2026-10-04.

30-second verdict

The second-generation 308 is a smart, efficient family hatch and estate that is often cheaper than a Golf or Focus of the same age. Two things decide whether you get a good one: on 1.2 PureTech petrols, the wet timing belt and oil history; on BlueHDi diesels, the health of the AdBlue and particulate filter systems. The 1.5 BlueHDi has also been recalled for its camshaft chain. Buy on paperwork, not looks.

Generations at a glance

Known issues

1. Wet timing belt, 1.2 PureTech 110/130 — Confirmed recall R/2020/326 (built June 2013 to April 2017); later cars reported by owners

• What you notice: oil-pressure warning flickering on braking or turns, "engine fault, repair needed", reduced brake assistance, or rubbery particles on the dipstick.
• Why: the cambelt runs in oil. Fuel dilution from short trips and incorrect oil break the belt down; debris can block the oil pickup and starve the brake vacuum pump.
• Fix: belt kit, oil pickup strainer, often the vacuum pump, and an oil change with the specified grade. Typical UK independent garage, 2026: £650–£1,200. Oil starvation damage can mean a replacement engine at several thousand pounds.
• DIY difficulty: 5/5.
• Check when buying: belt change evidence, yearly oil changes, recall completion (campaign code JZR), and a clean dipstick. Ask whether anything was claimed through Stellantis's UK wet-belt compensation scheme.

2. Oil consumption, 1.2 PureTech — Reported by owners

Some engines burn oil because carbon clogs the piston rings. Check the level, ask how often it is topped up, and treat a car that needs a litre every few hundred miles with caution.

3. 1.5 BlueHDi camshaft chain — Confirmed recall R/2025/246; also reported by owners

• What you notice: rattle from the engine, warning lights, or poor running.
• Which cars: 1.5 BlueHDi diesels (DV5R family). The recall covers Peugeots built January 2017 to January 2023.
• Fix: recall work at a Peugeot dealer where the car is in scope; outside it, chain replacement. Typical UK independent garage, 2026: £700–£1,400.
• Check when buying: run the recall check by reg and ask for evidence it was done.

4. AdBlue system faults, BlueHDi — Reported by owners and AdBlue specialists

• What you notice: AdBlue warning and a countdown before the engine will not restart.
• Why: crystallised fluid blocks the injector, the in-tank pump or its heater fails, or a NOx sensor fails.
• Fix: proper diagnosis first. Typical UK independent garage, 2026: £100–£200 for diagnosis; £300–£600 for an injector or NOx sensor; £800–£1,500 for a tank and pump unit.
• Check when buying: no countdown on the dash.

5. DPF and additive, BlueHDi — Confirmed recall R/2020/331 on some cars; blockages reported by owners

Short-trip diesels block their particulate filter. Some PSA diesels also use an additive tank that needs topping up at intervals. Typical UK independent garage, 2026: £150–£350 for regeneration and additive; £800+ for a filter.

6. Automatic gearboxes — Reported by owners

The EAT6 can feel hesitant or jerky; a software update and fluid change often help. The later EAT8 is smoother but needs its software up to date. Drive it from cold and in slow traffic.

7. Infotainment and climate controls — Reported by owners

Almost all heating controls live in the touchscreen, so a frozen or laggy screen is more than an annoyance. Test the screen, air-con and sensors thoroughly.

Recalls (DVSA data)

Listed against the 308 in DVSA recall data. Several apply only to particular engines, build dates or the Mk3, so check the car's own registration at gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall.

• R/2020/326 (Peugeot ref JZR) — brake vacuum pump may be affected by material from the timing belt; 1.2 turbo PureTech built June 2013–April 2017. Remedy: software update, belt and vacuum pump check and replacement if needed.
• R/2023/035 and R/2023/045 — further brake vacuum pump / timing belt campaigns.
• R/2020/207 — subframe corrosion protection.
• R/2020/331 — diesel particulate filter performance.
• R/2022/067 — external door handle slider.
• R/2023/290 — electric parking brake may not hold on a slope.
• R/2025/246 — DV5R (1.5 BlueHDi) camshaft chain.
• R/2025/054 and R/2025/277 — fuel pipe leakage.
• R/2025/265 — seat belt fastening.

MOT watch-points

What the 2024 DVSA figures say

• First-time pass rate: 64.1% from 133,197 normal Class 4 and 7 Peugeot 308 tests.
• National comparison: 71.5% across the same 2024 dataset, so this model was 7.4 percentage points below the national first-time pass rate.
• Typical tested mileage: median 77,333 miles; mean 81,400 miles.

Most common recorded failure reasons

One test can record more than one defect, so the shares must not be added together.

Common advisories to check before buying

• Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge — recorded on 23.3% of tests.
• Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened — recorded on 14.2% of tests.
• Brake pads: wearing thin — recorded on 9.8% of tests.

Method and limits: C4R calculated these figures from DVSA's anonymised 2024 MOT results. Pass rate is P / (P + F + PRS) for normal Class 4 and 7 tests. Results are de-duplicated by test, low-volume rows are suppressed, and DVSA model labels are standardised into a model family. These figures describe tested cars as a group; they do not predict the condition of one vehicle or prove that every trim and generation performs the same way.

DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results · Open Government Licence v3.0

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024.

Things testers commonly flag on family hatches of this age: front suspension bushes and ball joints, tyres, brake discs, bulbs and the number plate lamp, the electric parking brake, and diesel emissions.

Buying one? Our checklist

• [ ] PureTech: belt change paperwork, yearly oil changes, recall JZR done, clean dipstick.
• [ ] 1.5 BlueHDi: camshaft chain recall checked by reg.
• [ ] Diesel: no AdBlue countdown or DPF warning; longer journeys in its history.
• [ ] Automatic: smooth shifts from cold, in traffic and in reverse.
• [ ] Touchscreen, air-con and parking sensors all respond quickly.
• [ ] Electric parking brake holds on a slope and releases cleanly.
• [ ] Full recall and MOT history check by reg.

Sources & further reading

• Vehicle-Recall.co.uk: Peugeot recall R/2020/326 (mirror of DVSA data)
• Car Recalls UK: Peugeot 308 (2013–2017) brake vacuum pump / timing belt
• Peugeot Forums: JZR PureTech recall campaign in the UK
• Fleet News: Stellantis wet belt compensation portal
• Autodoc: Peugeot 308 "engine fault repair needed"
• Eden-Boites: 1.2 PureTech known problems
• RecallClear: Peugeot 308 recall list
• GOV.UK: Check if a vehicle has been recalled

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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