2018 Peugeot 3008 1.2L Petrol · PL67 EWC

The 2018 Peugeot 3008 presents a mixed mechanical picture, with a recent and significant escalation at the front suspension that a prospective buyer cannot afford to overlook. Across its testing history from 2020 through 2024 the vehicle maintained an unbroken run of clean passes with no advisories whatsoever, suggesting that the front axle components were operating within tolerance for several years. That pattern changed abruptly in late 2025. On 1 November 2025 the nearside front suspension arm pin or bush was recorded as excessively worn, resulting in a major failure under Section 5.3.4 (a) (i), accompanied by an advisory on the corresponding offside component. A retest just two days later, on 3 November 2025, returned a pass, but the same offside advisory remained, and the nearside item no longer met the failure threshold, indicating it was either repaired or that movement was reduced sufficiently for the test to be passed. The presence of an offside advisory immediately after the nearside had already reached the excessive-wear threshold suggests asymmetric wear across the front axle rather than an isolated incident. Mileage accumulation across the eight-year life of the vehicle has been moderate, with 54,958 recorded miles averaging roughly 6,870 per annum, which is broadly in line with typical usage for a car of this age and class. There are no significant gaps in annual testing, which implies the vehicle has remained in regular service rather than being laid up for extended periods, and the mileage trajectory between tests is steady rather than exhibiting sudden spikes. This pattern is mechanically reassuring in the sense that consumable wear should be progressing at a predictable rate, but it does mean the suspension, steering and drivetrain components have accumulated real-world use without extended standing time to mask developing faults. The front suspension concern is the dominant item to investigate on any physical inspection. On the test drive, listen carefully for clonks, thuds or knocking noises from the front axle, particularly when traversing speed bumps, potholes or undulating road surfaces, as worn suspension arm pins and bushes typically transmit impacts as audible knocks and can be felt as imprecise or wandering steering. With the vehicle stationary, a competent mechanic should jack the front end and check for vertical and fore-aft play in the lower control arms, with particular attention to the inner bushings where the arm meets the subframe; PEUGEOT 3008s are known for premature wear in this area. Steering inputs on a slow-speed manoeuvring test should remain tight without shuddering through the wheel, and braking should pull neither side nor produce a pedal judder, as worn front suspension geometry can indirectly affect brake disc wear patterns and steering stability under heavy stopping. The remaining items from the November 2025 test are secondary but should not be ignored. The offside front outer CV (constant velocity) joint boot was recorded as severely deteriorated on both the failure and the pass, indicating a torn or split gaiter that allows grease to escape and contaminants to enter the joint; on the test drive listen for a clicking or rhythmic knocking from the front when turning at full lock, particularly on a tight roundabout, as this is the classic symptom of an advanced CV joint failure. The nearside rear tyre had a nail in it at the time of test and the nearside front and offside front tyres were both flagged as worn close to the legal limit, so all four tyres should be measured for remaining tread depth and inspected for uneven shoulder wear, which can itself point to suspension geometry misalignment stemming from worn bushes. The headlamp aim failures recorded in September 2023 are minor and typically adjustable, but checking that both lamps project a level, symmetrical beam pattern with a defined cutoff line is worthwhile, as misaligned headlamps will also fail a forthcoming test if not corrected.