2021 Peugeot 208 Allure Premium Puretech SS 1.2L Petrol · MF71 SSX

The defining mechanical story of this 2021 Peugeot 208 is a notable shift in its MOT pattern during 2026, after two consecutive clean or near-clean test passes in 2024 and 2025. The most recent test on 20 July 2026 returned a pass, but only after the vehicle had failed earlier on the same date due to an offside front anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover that no longer prevented ingress of dirt. That same inspection also recorded a transmission oil leak from the drive seal at the nearside front, an offside front tyre worn on its edge, an offside rear tyre with a shallow cut, and a vehicle internal headlight adjuster that had been altered and required rechecking. The 2026 advisories alone flag four tyres of varying condition, including edge wear and tyres sitting close to the legal limit, alongside the drivetrain oil leak, which together suggest the consumables and sealing components are now entering a more active wear phase. Mileage accumulation across the recorded MOT tests is modest and broadly consistent with a typical five-year-old light car. With 32,484 miles on the odometer, the vehicle averages roughly 6,500 miles per year over its life, which is unremarkable for a small petrol supermini used for mixed commuting and short journeys. There are no large gaps between test dates that would imply a prolonged period off the road, and no sudden jumps in recorded mileage that would suggest the odometer has been clocked or that the car has covered unusually high distances in a short period. Mechanically, this usage profile means the engine, clutch, gearbox and drivetrain seals will have experienced reasonable but not severe thermal cycling, while the brakes, suspension joints and tyres will have absorbed a proportionate amount of urban and suburban wear rather than the accelerated fatigue often seen on high-mileage examples. The 2026 record points to a handful of specific components that warrant close physical inspection before purchase. The transmission drive seal oil leak at the nearside front should be examined from underneath the car to determine whether the seepage is fresh and active or merely a stained residue; a torch and a clean cloth wiped across the housing will quickly confirm whether the area is wet. The offside front anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover failure is a precursor to accelerated wear of the joint itself, so the link should be gripped and rocked by hand to detect any play or sloppiness, and the suspension should be listened for clonks or rattles over speed humps and uneven road surfaces. The headlight aim should be rechecked against a flat wall in dark conditions, particularly on dipped beam, to ensure the altered adjuster has been returned to a legal setting and that beam pattern is symmetrical and below the horizontal cutoff line. Brake and tyre condition also deserve direct attention on a test drive. Both rear brake discs were flagged as pitted or scored in the 2025 test, and although they were not considered seriously weakened at that time, a further year of use will have deepened the corrosion, so the car should be braked firmly from around 40 mph to feel for any vibration through the pedal or shudder through the steering, and the rear calipers should be checked for any binding or sticking pistons when the wheels are removed. The four tyre advisories, covering edge wear on the offside front and both rear tyres sitting close to the legal limit, suggest an alignment or tracking issue; on the road, the car should be driven in a straight line on a flat surface and any pull to one side noted, while uneven shoulder wear on the front tyres should be looked for visually. A final check under the bonnet for any fresh oil residue around the gearbox housing and a thorough inspection of all four tyres for age-related cracking will help confirm whether the 2026 advisories represent a one-off batch of wear or the start of a broader pattern of component ageing.