The Peugeot 108 is a small city car that shares its underpinnings with the Toyota Aygo and the Citroen C1. It was first introduced for the 2014 model year as it replaced the outgoing Peugeot 107. The 108 was in continuous production until 2021 when Peugeot completely abandoned the “100” series cars and focused on making the “200” series their smallest cars.
The 108 was a fairly popular car which means that the sales numbers were fairly decent, but Peugeot sold the factory in which they were built to Toyota which marked the end of Peugeot’s smallest city car. In this article, we are going to focus on all the common problems with Peugeot 108, so stick around and find out if you are interested in buying one.
The most common issues with the Peugeot 108 start with the steering column potentially failing, issues with the seatbelts, electrical issues, issues with the transmission, and slow acceleration. The fact of the matter is that most of these are not associated with improper maintenance which means that they tend to happen no matter how you take care of the car.
Either way, the 108 is a decently reliable car that should be able to last a long while. The best thing you can do is go for a relatively low-mileage example as these will perform much better.
Steering Issues
The steering system on the 108 has had a few recalls, but the most important one was due to the column failing and potentially causing a complete lack of steering control. This can be a dangerous occurrence, especially at higher speeds as you will not be able to control the car. Thankfully, the recall was issued and it did solve the problem, but be sure to check if the car you are looking at has been part of it.
Other steering issues include potential problems with the power steering pump which can sometimes fail and thus make the car’s steering heavy and difficult to control. These are mostly due to potential leaks, so be sure to check your steering for any signs of leaks.
Seatbelt Issues
The most common seatbelt-related issue with the 108 is associated with the rear seatbelts which can sometimes have incorrect stitching which can lead to problems while trying to buckle them. This was also part of a recall which means that you should check with your Peugeot dealer for individual cars.
Other issues include problems with seatbelts restraining passengers in an event of a crash, but these don’t seem to be all that common. All in all, the seatbelts and the airbags are the two most important safety features of any car which is why you should always make sure both are performing as intended.
Electrical Issues
Electrical issues are habitual for modern-day cars as they are so tightly packed with features that some stuff is bound to break at some point. The infotainment system is known to go blank or to have an issue with touch-screen functionality while the car can also prompt various warning lights intermittently if something is wrong with the associated sensors.
The reverse camera can sometimes fail as well which will stop you from seeing what is behind you at any time. Moreover, the power windows can sometimes fail and will require you to replace the power window motors.
Transmission Issues
The most vulnerable part of the 108s transmission is the clutch which can fail and cause the car to enter limp mode. The only way to fix this correctly is to replace the clutch which can be a hefty expense. A few owners also complained that the car refuses to shift into certain gears, especially the 3rd gear. Moreover, owners also reported that this issue is followed by loud grating noises.
A few also complained about the car having an incredibly high biting point on the clutch which means that driving a manual model smoothly is a real challenge.
Slow Acceleration
There are also a few reports roaming around the internet where people are saying that the 108 has serious trouble with a lack of power or subpar acceleration. These can be due to a few different reasons. First of all, the air filter can easily get clogged, and the mass airflow sensor and the fuel filter can also become clogged or/and dirty which can cause this.
The O2 and the catalytic converter can also be the reason why. Be sure to also check the throttle body and the throttle position sensor as these can be the culprits as well.
FAQ Section
Should I buy a Peugeot 108?
If you are interested in buying a small city used car, the Peugeot 108 is actually a really good idea. It has already endured the brunt of depreciation which means that it is really cheap these days but is also a fairly modern car with all the necessary amenities to make it a good daily driver.
It is rather small on the inside which will pose problems to those who want to use it for transporting people around. It also isn’t the most luxurious car in this segment, but that is to be expected considering the price.
Why did Peugeot discontinue the 108?
Peugeot stopped making the 108 because they sold the factory in which the car was built. Moreover, as SUVs and crossovers were starting to take over the global car market, Peugeot decided to focus their attention on crossovers and SUVs and there simply was no need to have both the Peugeot 108 and the Peugeot 208.
As such, Peugeot kept the 208 and relocated its resources to making new smaller crossovers like the 2008 and the rest of the lot.
Is the Peugeot 108 better than the Citroen C1 and the Toyota Aygo?
These three cars are incredibly similar which makes perfect sense as they are built on the same platform. Be that as it may, they are not the same as the Aygo seems to be a more reliable car than the other two which is why it is the best car in this group. It is also the most modern car in this group and the only one that can still be bought brand-new.
