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What to check: Peugeot 207

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Ranked across all years of the Peugeot 207, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

LeaksRuns high on this modelLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 16.8% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 4.8%

Coil springsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 11.6% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 5.0%

Lights and horn walkroundRuns high on this modelWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 10.4% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 3.5%

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 10.2% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 1.4%

ExhaustRuns high on this modelListen along the exhaust at cold idle for blowing or chuffing, and give the tailpipe a push to check nothing hangs loose. Small blows only get louder.Recorded on 9.5% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 0.9%

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 5.2% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 1.8%

Headlamp lensesRuns high on this modelCheck for condensation inside the headlamps and for cloudy or yellowed lenses. Both attract MOT trouble, and moisture inside a sealed LED unit generally means a whole new lamp.Recorded on 4.4% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 1.3%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 28.9% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 20.9%

Pads and discsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 18.0% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 11.4%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Check under the bonnet where the windscreen wipers sit, and make sure the scuttle drains aren't blocked with leaves.Blocked drains mean water has likely already reached the fusebox, wiring loom trouble follows.

On a 1.6 THP petrol, start it stone cold and listen at the front of the engine for a minute.A rattle or chatter on start-up points to a stretched timing chain.

Check the coolant level and look for a sweet smell or mayonnaise residue under the oil filler cap on 1.4 petrol cars.Either is a sign of thermostat housing or head gasket trouble brewing.

On diesels, check the dash for any DPF or emissions warning light and ask when the Eolys additive was last topped up.A lit warning or an overdue top-up means an emissions repair bill is likely coming.

On a 1.6 HDi diesel, listen for turbo whine and watch for blue-grey smoke under hard acceleration.Both point to worn turbo bearings and a costly oil-feed repair.

On automatics, drive it through all the gears including a stop-start in traffic.If it hangs or gets stuck in 3rd, that's the known gearbox software fault.

Pull the full MOT history, not just the pass/fail line.Repeated advisories for oil or coolant leaks and emissions match this model's known weak spot.

Full Peugeot 207 reliability report