2016 Peugeot 208 1.2L Petrol · LL66 LWC

The 2016 Peugeot 208 currently holds a valid MOT issued on 30 May 2026 at 50,975 miles, but the maintenance trend is clearly worsening. That same day the vehicle failed its initial test with a severely deteriorated offside front outer CV joint boot and a split nearside front outer CV joint boot, both allowing dirt ingress. The nearside boot was rectified before the pass, yet the offside boot remained flagged as severely perished and cracking. This is a recurring driveline vulnerability. The nearside front CV boot was already flagged as split or insecure in the June 2025 failure at 43,347 miles, meaning the same corner has been a persistent weak point across two consecutive test cycles. A pattern of neglecting CV boot deterioration is evident rather than a one-off repair. The mileage profile is notably low for a ten-year-old vehicle. Between the June 2024 pass at 31,889 miles and the June 2025 failure at 43,347 miles, the car covered roughly 11,459 miles in twelve months, a sharp acceleration from the prior average of around 5,000 miles per year. That spike suggests either a change in ownership or usage pattern, yet the vehicle has since settled back to minimal use, recording just 50,975 miles by May 2026, an increase of only 7,603 miles over nearly a year. The 2025 failure also exposed a fractured front exhaust mounting bracket and both rear tyres date-stamped 2016, meaning they were nine years old at the time of test and well past safe service life despite the car's low mileage. Long periods of standing likely contributed to perished rubber and degraded mounts. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front drivetrain and underbody condition. Both front outer CV joint boots have repeatedly failed or deteriorated, so check for play in the driveshafts, clicking on lock-to-lock turns, and any evidence of grease contamination on the inner wheel arch or suspension components. Inspect the front exhaust mounting bracket closely, as the 2025 fracture was a structural defect and any replacement should be verified. Examine all tyre sidewalls for age cracking, particularly if the rear tyres remain the original 2016-date-coded units. With a car that has spent extended periods stationary, also assess the condition of suspension bushes, coil springs for corrosion, and brake discs and calipers for surface corrosion or binding, as low-mileage vehicles frequently suffer from deterioration caused by lack of use rather than wear from mileage.