2012 Peugeot 508 2.0L Diesel · LL62 TYT

The defining mechanical theme of this 2012 Peugeot 508 is a recurring cluster of front-end wear items that have surfaced repeatedly across multiple tests, suggesting the front axle components have been the weak point rather than the vehicle as a whole. The record shows one Major failure on 21 November 2021, when the nearside front coil spring was recorded as fractured, and a separate failure on 20 November 2023, though on that occasion the car passed the following day with the same advisories still present. The 2023 advisories flagged front brake pads at 20 to 25 percent remaining material on both sides, both front tyres down to 3 mm, and a worn nearside front suspension arm bush not yet resulting in excessive movement. Most recently the vehicle passed an MOT on 18 November 2025 with no advisories recorded, which suggests the brake and tyre advisories from 2023 were addressed, although the suspension bush flagged two years prior remains unconfirmed as resolved. A further advisory appeared at the 2022 test for the same nearside front suspension arm bush, indicating this component has now been noted across three separate examinations without being replaced. With 42,717 miles recorded over 14 years, annual usage works out at roughly 3,050 miles per year, which is notably low for the vehicle's age. The testing record shows annual MOTs from 2020 onwards with no obvious multi-year gaps, suggesting the car has been used consistently and presented for test each year rather than left off the road. Low annual mileage of this nature typically reduces wear on major drivetrain components but can accelerate certain issues, including corrosion of underbody components, stiffness in brake calipers and cables from infrequent use, and deterioration of suspension bushes and rubber mounts due to age rather than mileage. The 2021 fractured coil spring is consistent with age-related metal fatigue rather than high-mileage stress, which fits the low-use profile. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection area is the front suspension and steering assembly. The nearside front lower arm front bush has been noted as worn on two occasions spanning 2022 to 2023, and it would be prudent to have the bush physically inspected, ideally with the vehicle on a ramp, to confirm whether movement has now exceeded acceptable limits. On the road, listen for clonks or knocks from the front end over uneven surfaces, pay particular attention to any vagueness or wandering through the steering wheel on undulating roads, and check for uneven tyre wear across the front pair, as a perished bush commonly produces inner-edge feathering. It is also worth visually inspecting the springs for any signs of corrosion pitting or cracks, as one coil spring has already failed on this vehicle and a second failure on a 14-year-old car would not be unusual. The braking system has been a secondary but persistent theme, with front pad wear advisories in both 2021 and 2023 and no brake-related defects recorded at either 2024 or 2025. Given the low annual mileage, the front calipers and slider mechanisms should be checked for free movement, as binding or seized calipers are common on lightly used vehicles and typically present as pulling to one side under braking or excessive drag when cold. The 2023 front tyre advisories noted 3 mm of tread with edge wear, and any tyres currently fitted should be inspected for similar inner or outer edge wear patterns, which would point to suspension geometry issues rather than simple tyre ageing. Finally, the nearside rear advisory from 2022 regarding items removed from the driver's view prior to test is a minor point but worth confirming that any such obstructions, such as dash-mounted devices, have not compromised forward visibility, as this would be a direct cause for failure at any subsequent test.