Advice for buyers
What should I look for in a used Peugeot 208 GTi hatchback?
The 208 GTi is a small car and will have been used in tight, urban car parks so make sure the bodywork's good. Check the wheels for nicks and scuffs, too.
Timing chain issues
There have been reports of timing chain issues, which can lead to expensive faults. 208s tend to suffer with quite a few electrical glitches, too, so make sure everything electrical in the car works and double-check that there are no nasty warning lights on the dashboard.
Infotainment issues
Peugeot’s infotainment touchscreen software isn’t just problematic in terms of its usability – it’s also starting to develop a reputation for freezing or failing completely, with the result that you can’t use any of its functions – radio, media interface, sat-nav, settings or anything else. If you’re lucky, a software reset will solve the problem, but some owners have had to replace the entire unit, which is not a cheap operation.
Recalls
There are a total of 10 recalls out on the standard 208, the largest of which involves 5502 cars and requires replacement of the front suspension wishbone mounting bolts, a batch of which have been found to break and result in loss of steering control and vibration from the front of the car. It’s worth checking to see which recalls might affect the car you’re hoping to buy and finding out whether the appropriate work has been carried out. If not, you’ll want to book it into a Peugeot dealer as soon as possible to get the work done (usually for free).
We didn't gather any data on reliability for the GTi version, but the standard 208 was never a reliable car, according to our annual survey. Peugeot as a brand finished in 18th place out of 31 manufactuers in our most recent reliability survey.
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