Peugeot 308 Tail Lights: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

On the 308, a real case shows a dealer producing an official document dismissing significant light condensation as normal — here's a better way to judge for yourself.

Illustration for editorial purposes

OEM Part Numbers

Accuracy note: we weren't able to verify a confident Peugeot 308 tail lights part number at the time of writing. Please confirm the correct part via a Peugeot dealer or parts specialist using your VIN.

A Genuine, Real Case Worth Knowing: When "Normal" Venting Becomes Excessive

Modern light units are deliberately vented rather than fully sealed, meaning some condensation forming and clearing naturally is genuinely by design rather than a fault. That said, one documented case on a related Peugeot model is worth knowing about directly: an owner of a nearly-new car found condensation covering almost half the visible area inside the headlamp after driving or standing in rain, and was told by the dealer this was normal, with an official Peugeot document produced supporting the claim that unsealed lamps are designed this way with no risk to corrosion or lighting effectiveness. The owner's own skeptical observation is worth repeating: this kind of blanket "designed to vent" explanation can be used to dismiss genuinely excessive water ingress just as easily as it explains genuinely normal, minor misting — comparing your car directly against another example of the same model is a more useful test than accepting the explanation alone.

A genuinely useful way to judge for yourself: if you can compare your car's condensation directly against a similar-age example of the same model, a significant difference in severity is worth pushing back on, even if the underlying vented design is genuinely normal in principle. Light misting that clears within a few hours of driving is a different situation entirely from condensation persisting for days or covering a large proportion of the lamp's visible area.

It's also worth knowing that water ingress issues on this platform aren't limited to the lights themselves — blocked scuttle drains under the windscreen wipers are a separate, well-documented cause of water finding its way into the car more broadly. If you're chasing condensation or dampness beyond just the lights, it's worth checking these drains too rather than assuming every water-related fault traces back to a single cause.

More Wiring Behind There Than Most People Assume

A tail light unit typically bundles several functions into one housing — brake light, indicator, reversing light and rear fog light — which means a single electrical fault can affect more than one function at once, and a "faulty tail light" can mean several genuinely different things.

Before you buy: tail light design and bulb type vary by trim and facelift status. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

What It Does

Beyond basic rear visibility, tail light units on the 308 typically integrate brake lights, indicators, reversing lights and rear fog lights into a single housing. Higher trims may use LED units with a distinct light signature, which are not interchangeable with standard halogen units even if the physical mounting looks similar.

Fitment & Compatibility

Tail light design changed between generations of the 308, and facelifted versions within the same generation often use a revised light signature that isn't interchangeable with pre-facelift units. Always confirm the exact part for your specific model year before ordering. Whether you're sourcing a replacement tail lights for your Peugeot 308 from a dealer, specialist, or online marketplace, always check compatibility against your registration or VIN before buying, and confirm you're ordering the correct side — driver's side (RH in the UK) or passenger side (LH in the UK) — since these are not interchangeable.

Common Faults

What to Look For

One function out but others working — often a single blown bulb rather than a wiring fault, since multiple bulbs typically share one housing.
Condensation inside the lens — points to a failed seal, which can damage electrics if left untreated.
Flickering brake light — can indicate a failing bulb holder or a wiring connection issue.
Cracked lens from impact — usually straightforward to replace like-for-like, though LED units cost considerably more than halogen equivalents.

DIY Replacement Difficulty

Bulb replacement is usually an easy DIY job, typically accessed from inside the boot without needing tools. Full unit replacement is slightly more involved but still manageable at home on most versions, generally requiring removal of a few boot trim fasteners. Expect 10–20 minutes for a bulb swap, or up to 45 minutes for a full unit.

OEM vs. Aftermarket

For basic halogen units, reputable aftermarket tail lights are a reliable, cheaper alternative to OEM. For LED units with a distinctive light signature, OEM or high-quality aftermarket replicas are worth the extra cost to avoid a mismatched look between the two rear light clusters.

More Peugeot Tail Lights Guides

The same part, covered across other Peugeot models.